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inaction

American  
[in-ak-shuhn] / ɪnˈæk ʃən /

noun

  1. absence of action; idleness.

inaction British  
/ ɪnˈækʃən /

noun

  1. lack of action; idleness; inertia

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of inaction

First recorded in 1700–10; in- 3 + action

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.

Inaction only emboldens the Truman’s enemies, which in this case include gravity and potentially an octopus, and encourages further mischief.

From Slate • May 8, 2025

Inaction and learned helplessness are an unacceptable choice.

From Salon • Jan. 27, 2025

Inaction from the Church represented a "missed opportunity to bring him to justice," the report says.

From BBC • Nov. 12, 2024

Inaction on several smaller bipartisan measures resulted in part from the reluctance of party leaders, particularly in the Senate, to devote days of valuable floor time to them amid a crush of other pressing matters.

From New York Times • Dec. 30, 2022

Inaction was galling, and, after lying still for a long time, Teeny-bits again began to struggle and twist and squirm.

From The Mark of the Knife by Ernst, Clayton H.

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.