stagnant
Americanadjective
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(of water, etc) standing still; without flow or current
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brackish and foul from standing still
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stale, sluggish, or dull from inaction
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not growing or developing; static
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of stagnant
First recorded in 1660–70; from Latin stāgnant-, stem of stāgnāns “forming a pool,” present participle of stāgnāre “to form a pool of standing water, be inundated”; see stagnate
Explanation
There is a tone to the word stagnant that sounds like what it is: lacking movement, stale, and inactive, especially with exaggerated pronunciation, "staaaagnant." Stagnant came into use in the 17th century as a description for water or air that wasn't moving or circulating, like in a scum-covered pond or a closed-off room. Often things that are stagnant also have a smell from sitting too long in one place. Not that this happens to everyone, but sitting in front of a TV playing video games without moving more than the fingers can make a person stagnant, sometimes with an accompanying odor.
Vocabulary lists containing stagnant
List 1
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Esperanza Rising
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Vocabulary from the Third and Final Presidential Debate, October 19, 2016
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The chip maker offsets a stagnant auto market by producing power-chip solutions and optical cable for data centers.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
Researchers say stagnant funding has become a major issue.
From Science Daily • Jun. 1, 2026
“The Northeast has embraced slow growth while still doing well economically, but there are other places in the world struggling with stagnant economies, poverty, and cheap-but-low-quality housing. That’s a model you won’t want to repeat.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026
Drake understands that the inertia of superstardom in this surprisingly stagnant quarter-century will protect him.
From Salon • May 21, 2026
It was green and stagnant, thrust out like a slimy arm towards the enclosing hills.
From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
