# inverse

/ˌɪnˈvɝs/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inverse
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the direct opposite

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the exact opposite of something else.

For teachers: the direct opposite or reverse of a given state, condition, or proposition.

- The results of the second experiment were the exact inverse of the first.
- The new policy produced an outcome that was the functional inverse of what the committee had originally intended to achieve.

### 2. mathematical opposite

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a number or element that cancels out another one when you use them together in a calculation.

For teachers: an element which, when combined with another under a specific binary operation, yields the identity element.

- To solve the equation, you need to find the inverse of the matrix.
- The student struggled to calculate the multiplicative inverse of the fraction, failing to realise it simply required inverting the numerator and denominator.

Usage: In arithmetic, the additive inverse of 5 is -5.

### 3. opposite in order or effect

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

opposite in position, direction, or the way it works.

For teachers: reversed in position, order, or relation; often used to describe a relationship where one value increases as another decreases.

- There is an inverse relationship between the price of the product and how many people buy it.
- The researchers noted an inverse correlation between the amount of sleep participants received and their reported stress levels the following morning.

Usage: Commonly used in the phrase 'inverse relationship'.

## Examples

- The results were the exact inverse of what we expected.
- In many economic models, the price of a luxury good is the inverse of its demand among budget-conscious shoppers.
- The philosopher argued that the public's perception of safety was often the inverse of the actual crime statistics reported by the local police department.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.