# inverted

/ˌɪnˈvɝtɪd/ (US) · /ɪnvˈɜːtɪd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. upside down or reversed

adjective · CEFR B2

turned upside down or placed in the opposite order.

For teachers: having the position, order, or direction reversed or turned upside down.

- The logo on the screen appeared inverted, so the text was upside down.
- The pilot maintained control even while the aircraft was flying in an inverted position during the stunt.

### 2. musical chords

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

a way of playing a musical chord where the lowest note is moved higher.

For teachers: describing a chord where the notes are rearranged so that the root is no longer the lowest pitch.

- The pianist played an inverted C major chord to make the transition smoother.
- By using inverted triads, the composer created a more fluid melodic line in the lower register of the string quartet.

### 3. historical term for sexuality

adjective · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

an old-fashioned word once used to describe being gay.

For teachers: a dated term used in early psychology to refer to homosexuality, based on the theory of 'sexual inversion'.

- In the old novel, the character was described as inverted, which was a common term at the time.
- Early twentieth-century sexologists often used the term inverted to pathologize same-sex attraction before modern terminology was established.

Teaching tip: This sense is archaic and can be offensive; it is only encountered in historical or academic texts about the history of psychology.

## Examples

- The pilot flew the plane in an inverted position.
- The graph shows an inverted relationship between price and demand, where one rises as the other falls.
- In many languages, an inverted word order is used to turn a statement into a question, placing the verb before the subject.

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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.