inactive

[ in-ak-tiv ]

adjective

1. not active:

   an inactive volcano.

   Synonyms: inoperative, immobile, unmoving

   Antonyms: lively

2. sedentary or passive:

   an inactive life.

   Antonyms: lively

3. sluggish; indolent.

   Synonyms: slothful, idle, lazy

   Antonyms: lively

4. Military. not on active duty.
5. Chemistry.
   1. inert; unreactive.
   2. noting a compound that has no effect on polarized light.

inactive

/ ɪnˈæktɪv /

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

Derived Forms

• ˌinacˈtivity, noun
• inˈactively, adverb

Other Words From

• in·active·ly adverb
• inac·tivi·ty in·active·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of inactive¹

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

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.

Example Sentences

The measurements from the spacecraft’s instruments indicated that the planets and moons were inactive, unlike the other moons in the outer solar system.

From BBC

Voyager 2 found none, suggesting that Uranus and its five largest moons were sterile and inactive.

From BBC

Receiver Jordan Whittington, who was inactive the last two games because of a shoulder injury, was a full participant.

From Los Angeles Times

White, 29, started the first four games but was inactive for the last four.

From Los Angeles Times

He was questionable with a groin injury and was inactive Sunday despite being added to the active roster Saturday from injured reserve.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dormant
• dull
• idle
• immobile
• inoperative
• jobless
• passive
• sedentary
• sluggish
• static
• unemployed
• unused