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View synonyms for

inactive

[in-ak-tiv]

adjective

  1. not active.

    an inactive volcano.

    Synonyms: , ,
    Antonyms:
  2. sedentary or passive.

    an inactive life.

    Antonyms:
  3. sluggish; indolent.

    Synonyms: , ,
    Antonyms:
  4. Military.not on active duty.

  5. Chemistry.

    1. inert; unreactive.

    2. noting a compound that has no effect on polarized light.



inactive

/ ɪˈæɪ /

adjective

  1. idle or inert; not active

  2. sluggish, passive, or indolent

  3. military of or relating to persons or equipment not in active service

  4. chem (of a substance) having little or no reactivity

  5. (of an element, isotope, etc) having little or no radioactivity

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • inactively adverb
  • inactivity noun
  • inactiveness noun
  • ˌԲˈپٲ noun
  • ˈپ adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of inactive1

First recorded in 1715–25; in- 3 + active
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Synonym Study

Inactive, dormant, inert, sluggish, torpid suggest lack of activity. Inactive indicates absence of action, indisposition to activity, or cessation of activity: an inactive compound, life, file of papers. Dormant suggests the quiescence or inactivity of that which sleeps but may be roused to action: a dormant volcano. Inert suggests the condition of dead matter, with no inherent power of motion or action; it may also mean unable to move, or heavy and hard to move: an inert mass; inert from hunger. Sluggish expresses slowness of natural activity or of that which does not move readily or vigorously: a sluggish stream, brain. Torpid suggests a state of suspended physical powers, a condition particularly of animals that hibernate: Snakes are torpid in cold weather.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Ministers hope these efforts will boost employment among benefits recipients, at a time when 2.8 million people are economically inactive due to long-term sickness.

From

The number of economically inactive young people is down 29,000 on the same period last year, but the number of unemployed people looking for work has increased by 21,000.

From

Non-immigrants could theoretically fill many of these posts and working-age people who are economically inactive could potentially be deployed in this sector if they could be encouraged and helped into work.

From

Instead people in this group are called "economically inactive", external.

From

The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion will be considered an inactive player, having gone a whole year without competing.

From

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inactivatein addition