deactivate

[ dee-ak-tuh-veyt ]

verb (used with object)

, de·ac·ti·vat·ed, de·ac·ti·vat·ing.

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.

verb (used without object)

, de·ac·ti·vat·ed, de·ac·ti·vat·ing.

1. Physical Chemistry. to lose radioactivity.

deactivate

/ 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

Derived Forms

• deˈactiˌvator, noun
• deˌactiˈvation, noun

Other Words From

• de·acti·vation noun
• de·acti·vator noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of deactivate¹

First recorded in 1900–05; de- + activate

Example Sentences

This ship is crowded with a complete set of automatic defenses that I cant deactivate.

From Project Gutenberg

It will not be possible to deactivate it before 12.45 hours.

From Project Gutenberg

Conn used the manual control to set it down and deactivate it, then got out and went to examine it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disband
• shut off