If in a molecular collision there is transfer of energy among degrees of freedom, but no chemical reaction occurs, there is said to be inelastic scattering.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 149. 'A glossary of terms used in chemical kinetics, including reaction dynamics (IUPAC Recommendations 1996)' on page 169 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199668010149)