Inane suggests emptiness in thought or meaning, and as a noun it has similar use, as in "thoughts making excursions into the incomprehensible inane" (the example is attributed to the 17th …

INANE definition: 1. extremely silly or with no real meaning or importance: 2. extremely silly or with no real…. Learn more.

INANE definition: lacking sense, significance, or ideas; silly. See examples of inane used in a sentence.

Dec 26, 2025 · From Middle French inane, from Latin inānis (“empty, vain, useless”) which is of unknown origin.

Definition of inane adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Factsheet What does the word inane mean? There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the word inane. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

inane empty, pointless, lacking sense, complacently foolish: I was bored by the lecturer’s inane presentation.

From Middle French inane, from Latin inānis (“empty, vain, useless”). I tend to act inane around the people that I am closest to. For this reason, it is in parents' best interest to follow the …

If you describe someone's behaviour or actions as inane, you think they are very silly or stupid.

If something is inane, it's silly or senseless. If you just want to space out, you won't mind the inane chatter on TV, as long as it's on.