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

Example Sentences

Luxury stocks have struggled in recent years due to stagnant growth in China, a major market for many of the sector’s flagship names.

From Barron's

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

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From MarketWatch

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

From BBC

Another big concern: The spike in crude has raised fears of stagflation, or stagnant growth coupled with higher prices.

From Barron's

Related Words

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