inactive

[ in-ak-tiv ]

adjective

1. not active:

   an inactive volcano.

   Synonyms: inoperative, immobile, unmoving

   Antonyms: lively

2. sedentary or passive:

   an inactive life.

   Antonyms: lively

3. sluggish; indolent.

   Synonyms: slothful, idle, lazy

   Antonyms: lively

4. Military. not on active duty.
5. Chemistry.
   1. inert; unreactive.
   2. noting a compound that has no effect on polarized light.

inactive

/ ɪnˈæktɪv /

adjective

1. idle or inert; not active
2. sluggish, passive, or indolent
3. military of or relating to persons or equipment not in active service
4. chem (of a substance) having little or no reactivity
5. (of an element, isotope, etc) having little or no radioactivity

Derived Forms

• ˌinacˈtivity, noun
• inˈactively, adverb

Other Words From

• in·active·ly adverb
• inac·tivi·ty in·active·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inactive¹

First recorded in 1715–25; in- ³ + active

Synonym Study

Inactive, dormant, inert, sluggish, torpid suggest lack of activity. Inactive indicates absence of action, indisposition to activity, or cessation of activity: an inactive compound, life, file of papers. Dormant suggests the quiescence or inactivity of that which sleeps but may be roused to action: a dormant volcano. Inert suggests the condition of dead matter, with no inherent power of motion or action; it may also mean unable to move, or heavy and hard to move: an inert mass; inert from hunger. Sluggish expresses slowness of natural activity or of that which does not move readily or vigorously: a sluggish stream, brain. Torpid suggests a state of suspended physical powers, a condition particularly of animals that hibernate: Snakes are torpid in cold weather.

Example Sentences

Women who were active most days were more than three times more likely to have fertility problems than inactive women.

From The Daily Beast

Tallahassee police say they made the case inactive after the victim stopped talking them—a claim that Carroll has denied.

From The Daily Beast

In online-dating speak, these inactive users are known as “date bait.”

From The Daily Beast

The demolition work also is predicted to be more complicated because of inactive utility lines.

From The Daily Beast

Arulanandam says it is “overly generous” to say that gun control groups are moribund and inactive.

From The Daily Beast

This product is dextro-rotatory; the laevo and inactive modifications occur in the so-called baldrianic camphor.

From Project Gutenberg

Few men could remain so patiently inactive as Seth, once he was convinced that inaction was the best course to pursue.

From Project Gutenberg

Having his entire force already on the field, he remained absolutely inactive while the enemy formed their line.

From Project Gutenberg

The long inactive, sluggish ecclesiastics suddenly seemed to feel the vigor to resist and the power to lead.

From Project Gutenberg

We should have to encounter there only a weak, inactive, and unenterprising people.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dormant
• dull
• idle
• immobile
• inoperative
• jobless
• passive
• sedentary
• sluggish
• static
• unemployed
• unused