stagnation

American  

[stag-ney-shuhn] / stægˈneɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the state or condition of stagnating, or having stopped, as by ceasing to run or flow.

   Meteorologists forecast ozone and air stagnation.

2. a foulness or staleness, as one emanating from a standing pool of water.

3. a failure to develop, progress, or advance.

   periods of economic stagnation followed by bursts of growth.

4. the state or quality of being or feeling sluggish and dull.

   Happily, they have been able to avoid stagnation in their ten-year marriage.

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Etymology

Origin of stagnation

stagn(ate) + -ation

Example Sentences

The stagnation of the Clarity Act is a reminder of the long road to clear legal and regulatory standing.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

A stubbornly high rate of unemployment underscores broader stagnation in the economy at the start of this year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

And they did during the 1970s, an era of repeated energy crises and endemic “stagflation,” meaning economic stagnation combined with inflation.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 6, 2026

With the hands of central banks tied, investors are worried about the risk of stagflation -- a period of economic stagnation and inflation -- such as what happened after the first oil shock in 1973.

From Barron's • Mar. 6, 2026

His only complaint was that he couldn’t think—he had “the most complete stagnation of mind. I have ceased to think even of barnacles!”

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman

Related Words

• sluggishness