immortality
C1Formal / Literary / Academic
Definition
Meaning
the state of living forever; eternal life or existence.
The condition of being remembered or famous for an exceptionally long time.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word typically refers to a conceptual or abstract state rather than a physical one. It is more commonly used in philosophical, religious, literary, and figurative contexts than in literal biological ones.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences. Pronunciation differs in stress.
Connotations
Similar across both variants.
Frequency
Comparable frequency; possibly slightly more frequent in UK English in literary/academic contexts due to historical education emphasis.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
(verb) + immortality (e.g., seek, achieve, grant)immortality + (preposition) + (noun) (e.g., immortality of the soul, immortality through fame)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A ticket to immortality”
- “To drink from the cup of immortality”
- “To steal immortality from the gods”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Used metaphorically: 'The brand seeks immortality in the market.'
Academic
Common in philosophy, theology, literature, and history. 'The paper examines ancient concepts of the soul's immortality.'
Everyday
Limited. Used in discussions about legacy, fame, or fiction. 'He joked about finding the secret to immortality.'
Technical
Used in specific fields like biology (re: 'biological immortality' of certain cells) or digital humanities ('digital immortality').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The hero was immortalised in the epic poem.
- They sought to immortalise his memory in bronze.
American English
- The founding fathers were immortalized in the Constitution.
- The song immortalized that summer romance.
adverb
British English
- His name is immortally linked to the discovery.
- The event was immortally preserved on film.
American English
- The artist is immortally famous for that one piece.
- Their deed was immortally recorded in the archives.
adjective
British English
- The playwright achieved immortal fame.
- He is considered an immortal figure in our history.
American English
- She left an immortal legacy.
- The immortal words of the speech are still quoted.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Many ancient stories are about gods and immortality.
- He wants to be famous and achieve immortality.
- The scientist's discovery granted her a form of academic immortality.
- The novel explores the burden of immortality, not just its blessings.
- The philosopher argued that true immortality resides in the enduring impact of one's virtuous actions.
- Critics suggested the dictator's statue was a futile attempt to grasp at political immortality.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'I'M MORtal, but remove the 'M' from 'mortal' to get the opposite - I'M-MORTAL-ITY.'
Conceptual Metaphor
IMMORTALITY IS A PLACE (enter immortality), IMMORTALITY IS A POSSESSION (gain immortality), IMMORTALITY IS UP (ascend to immortality), LIFE IS A STORY (immortality is the story that never ends).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'бессмертность' for non-literal contexts (e.g., 'fame' is better for 'literary immortality').
- Do not confuse with 'вечность' (eternity), which is a broader concept of infinite time.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'immorality' (lack of morals) instead of 'immortality' (spelling confusion).
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'an immortality'). It is uncountable.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'immortality' LEAST likely to be used literally?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'immortality' is an uncountable noun. You cannot say 'an immortality' or 'immortalities'.
'Immortality' is the quality of a living being never dying. 'Eternity' is the concept of infinite, unending time itself.
Yes, figuratively. We can speak of 'the immortality of a poem' or 'a brand's immortality,' meaning they endure or are remembered for a very long time.
The most common error is confusing it with 'immorality' (wickedness), due to their similar spelling.