nonmotile

1 8.3

Cells or tiny living things that cannot move by themselves

adjective
/ˌnɒnˈmoʊtaɪl/

Specialized

: no motil

Unlike their motile counterparts, the nonmotile cells were unable to swim towards food sources.

Examples

The three isolates from these patients, HKU36-38, were nonmotile, oxidase-positive, non-glucose-fermenting, gram-negative bacilli.

Academic text (2015)
The nonmotile, gram-positive, and catalase-positive microorganisms were individually stabbed into tubes containing methyl red agar (with added glucose).

Academic text (1993)
The bacteria found in the sample were nonmotile, meaning they could not move on their own.
In the laboratory, the nonmotile microorganisms required nutrients from their environment to survive.

Synonyms

immobile

vsnonmotile

14 4.4

Not able to move or be moved, like a statue

is about lacking ability to move by itself not being physically stuck

immotile

vsnonmotile

Specialized

1 9.9

Unable to move on its own, for example cells or tiny living things

is not capable of movement generally rather than specifying self propelled action

nonmobile

vsnonmotile

1 6.5

Unable to move or be moved easily

is about lacking self movement rather than being hard to move by others

Antonyms

motile

Specialized

1 8.6

Able to move by itself, like bacteria or sperm cells

How Mobile

motile

Specialized

1 8.6

nonmotile

Specialized

1 8.3

Surface Forms

nonmotile positive

Morphology

nonmotile = motile (transparent) = non + motile

The adjective is a straightforward negation formed with the productive prefix 'non-', so knowing 'motile' allows deriving 'nonmotile'.

Etymology

Nonmotile combines non- ('not') and motile from a root that means 'to move', the same root you see in motion and motor. So nonmotile means 'not able to move', often used for cells or spores that stay still.