What does immobilise mean?
Immobilise means to make something or someone unable to move, function, or act. It is used for vehicles that cannot be driven, people whose movements are physically restricted, and, by extension, plans, markets, or activities that are prevented from progressing. The word often suggests a firm or deliberate restriction: a police operation may immobilise a suspect’s vehicle, while an injury can immobilise a person. It can also describe economic or administrative obstruction, as when new regulations immobilise a business. Although immobilise is commonly used in reporting and public-safety contexts, its meaning is not restricted to physical restraint. The related adjective immobile describes something already unable to move, and the verb is especially associated with British spelling, with immobilize serving as the usual US form.
verbTo prevent something from moving or operating, or to make a person unable to act. It can also mean to slow or hinder the movement, activity, or development of something.
- To prevent something from moving or operating.
- To make a person physically unable to move.
- To impede the movement, activity, or development of something.
"The heavy snow immobilised several cars on the hill."
"Police used barriers to immobilise the vehicle at the scene."
"The injury immobilised him for several weeks."
From “immobile,” which comes from the Latin for “not movable,” the word immobilise means to make movement impossible—whether in a car, a person, or a plan.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of immobilise
The word comes from the Latin adjective immobilis, meaning “not movable” or “immovable,” combined with the English suffix -ise, which forms verbs. English began using the related adjective immobile in the 17th century, while immobilise developed later as a verb meaning to make immobile or prevent movement. The same Latin root also underlies mobile, mobility, mobilise, and demobilise, all of which concern the ability to move or the process of being put into motion.
Related word forms
How immobilise is actually used
The verb is formal in many contexts, especially in journalism, public safety, and transport. In British English, “immobilise” is standard; “immobilize” is used in American English.
Easily confused with immobilise
Immobilise is the standard British spelling, while immobilize is the standard US spelling of the same verb.
Immobile is an adjective meaning unable to move, whereas immobilise is a verb meaning to make something unable to move.