stagnant
Americanadjective
-
(of water, etc) standing still; without flow or current
-
brackish and foul from standing still
-
stale, sluggish, or dull from inaction
-
not growing or developing; static
Other Word Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing stagnant
List 1
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Esperanza Rising
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocabulary from the Third and Final Presidential Debate, October 19, 2016
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Its spot in the market has been stagnant for the past three months, Ramp’s data show, and xAI’s share peaked at 2% in January.
From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026
Drake understands that the inertia of superstardom in this surprisingly stagnant quarter-century will protect him.
From Salon • May 21, 2026
Lowe’s reported higher first-quarter sales boosted by growth in its online channel, even as a stagnant housing market continues to weigh on home improvement activity.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
Advice NI's head of Money, Debt and Quality, Sinéad Campbell, says that stagnant wages and rising costs are pushing more people into debt.
From BBC • May 20, 2026
After a long walk and several Y-shaped tunnel splits, the pigeon led us to a disused section of track where the ties had warped and rotted and pools of stagnant water spanned the floor.
From "Hollow City" by Ransom Riggs
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
