inelastic
adjUS /ˌɪnəˈlæstɪk/
Etymology From in- + elastic.
1
Lacking elasticity; inflexible, unyielding.
Literal or figurative
- He spoke languidly, and only those few words, like a watch with an inelastic spring, that just ticks a moment or two and stops again.1852, Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Blithedale Romance:
- I cannot believe that Christ himself intended that his religion should be so inelastic, so hard and fast, so cruel as you imply.1913, Winston Churchill, The Inside Of The Cup:
2
Economics, Sciences Insensitive to changes in price.
- perfectly inelastic supply
- A different approach is needed now, as there is more discretionary travel which, unlike the use of season tickets, does not have inelastic demand characteristics.2023 April 3, 'Industry Insider', “Passengers returning to rail”, in RAIL, number 1006, page 68:
3
Government, Politics US Resistant to swings during elections; predictable.
- Derived terms
- deep inelastic collision, inelastically