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

---

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

---

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”; 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

Amid a stagnant crypto market, that just might be enough to boost Bitcoin prices a bit higher.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

Other scale plays have fared little better, leaving acquirers with stagnant portfolios instead of durable growth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

Deflation often has been associated with Japan, which experienced stagnant or falling prices from the 1990s through 2022.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 26, 2026

And with Italy's economy already stagnant, many people are concerned about the war's impact on their energy costs.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

On the green Sound, stagnant in the heat, one small sail crawled slowly toward the fresher sea.

From " The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Related Words

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