deactivate

American  

[dee-ak-tuh-veyt] / diˈæk təˌveɪt /

verb (used with object)

deactivated, deactivating

1. to cause to be inactive; remove the effectiveness of.

2. to demobilize or disband (a military unit).

3. to render (a bomb, shell, or the like) inoperative, especially by disconnecting, removing, or otherwise interfering with the action of the fuze.

4. Chemistry. to render (a chemical, enzyme, catalyst, etc.) inactive.

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verb (used without object)

deactivated, deactivating

1. Physical Chemistry. to lose radioactivity.

deactivate British  

/ diːˈæktɪˌveɪt /

verb

1. (tr) to make (a bomb, etc) harmless or inoperative

2. (intr) to become less radioactive

3. (tr) to end the active status of (a military unit)

4. chem to return or cause to return from an activated state to a normal or ground state

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Other Word Forms

• deactivation noun
• deactivator noun

Etymology

Origin of deactivate

First recorded in 1900–05; de- + activate

Example Sentences

Nearly 50 cities nationwide have opted to deactivate their scanners or cancel contracts with Flock, mostly in recent months, according to the website DeFlock.me, which has set out to map locations of the company’s cameras.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2026

He added that "social media platforms will then have until December 31 to deactivate existing accounts" that do not comply with the age limit.

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

The long polymer chains in single-use plastics are extremely stable, and contaminants in waste streams can quickly deactivate traditional catalysts.

From Science Daily • Jan. 24, 2026

They will need to deactivate existing accounts and prohibit any new accounts, as well as stopping any work arounds.

From BBC • Dec. 2, 2025

And then, when nothing happened—as nothing would—he would apply the neutralizing compound to deactivate it so it didn’t just drip down the impervious metal and eat its way into the ground.

From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor

Related Words

• disband
• shut off