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

Other Word Forms

• inactively adverb
• inactivity noun
• inactiveness 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

Captured by Russian forces early in the war, the facility no longer supplies power to the grid but still needs electricity to cool its six inactive reactors and spent fuel.

From Los Angeles Times

The official CDC list of conditions that could justify getting the vaccine is also extensive, including risk factors like being overweight, physically inactive or having ever smoked.

From Los Angeles Times

Research from Sport England shows 42% of British Muslim women are "inactive" - almost double the figure for the female population as a whole.

From BBC

Earlier this season, former world number one Williams was officially considered an inactive player, having gone a whole year without competing.

From BBC

Earlier this season, Williams became considered an inactive player, having gone a whole year without competing.

From BBC

Related Words

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