deactivate

[dee-ak-tuh-veyt]

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.

verb (used without object)

deactivated, deactivating 

1. Physical Chemistry.,  to lose radioactivity.

deactivate

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• deactivator noun
• deactivation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deactivate¹

First recorded in 1900–05; de- + activate

Example Sentences

Last month, the government said social media giants will not be required to verify the ages of all users, but must take "reasonable steps" to detect and deactivate underage ones.

Read more on Barron's

We found that the average college student would need to be paid around $50 to deactivate either Instagram or TikTok for four weeks.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Marine Corps ordnance disposal team then determined that the device was safe to transport and moved it off site, where it was deactivated.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The ticket James purchased had already been deactivated when he tried to scan it to enter the Amex stadium.

Read more on BBC

Some of these people have turned off comments on their accounts, or deactivated them altogether.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• disband 
• shut off