deactivate

American  

[dee-ak-tuh-veyt] / diˈæk təˌveɪt /

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.

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verb (used without object)

deactivated, deactivating

1. Physical Chemistry. to lose radioactivity.

deactivate British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• deactivation noun
• deactivator noun

Etymology

Origin of deactivate

First recorded in 1900–05; de- + activate

Example Sentences

In contrast, mice in which HIF1 was deactivated in tendon tissue did not develop tendon disease, even when their tendons were overloaded.

From Science Daily

Northstar’s media contact number has been deactivated and an email to the resort was not immediately returned.

From Los Angeles Times

But it appears that they have once again decided to put their efforts on hold, with records showing that the listing has been deactivated for a second time.

From MarketWatch

The video-sharing platform deactivated two accounts after we contacted it with the findings of our investigation.

From BBC

Uber also agreed to reinstate workers who were wrongfully deactivated, which could be as many as 10,000 people, the mayor’s office said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• disband
• shut off