stagnant

American  

[stag-nuhnt] / ˈstæg nənt /

adjective

1. not flowing or running, as water, air, etc.

2. stale or foul from standing, as a pool of water.

3. characterized by lack of development, advancement, or progressive movement.

   a stagnant economy.

4. inactive, sluggish, or dull.

   Synonyms:

   lazy, inert, dead, lifeless, dormant

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stagnant British  

/ ˈstæɡnənt /

adjective

1. (of water, etc) standing still; without flow or current

2. brackish and foul from standing still

3. stale, sluggish, or dull from inaction

4. not growing or developing; static

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Other Word Forms

• stagnance
  noun
• stagnancy
  noun
• stagnantly
  adverb
• unstagnant
  adjective
• unstagnantly
  adverb

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.

Example Sentences

Stagnant lid: A tectonic state where the planet's outer shell is rigid and unmoving, with very little surface recycling compared to modern plate tectonics.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2025

Stagnant wage growth has long been an issue in Japan that policymakers have been pushing to address.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

Stagnant communities, by contrast, tend to homogenize over time, as people conform to the views of those around them.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2025

Stagnant growth and sticky inflation have raised concerns about so-called "stagflation".

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2025

Stagnant water and swampy spots provided the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes, which spread malaria among the capital's residents during mild weather.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

Related Words

• dormant
• idle
• inactive
• lifeless
• listless
• sluggish
• static
• stationary