inactivate

verb

in·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˌ)i-ˈnak-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce inactivate (audio)
inactivated; inactivating; inactivates

transitive verb

: to make inactive
chemicals to inactivate viruses
inactivation noun

Examples of inactivate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The gene that codes for fur pigment is on the X, and the orange and black patches on these cats reflect areas where one X chromosome was inactivated versus the other. Jonathan Wosen Reprints, STAT, 1 Feb. 2024 The treatment uses a newer, more precise form of Crispr called base editing to inactivate a gene in the liver called PCSK9. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 15 Nov. 2023 An additional 59 edits were made to some of the donor animals to inactivate endogenous retroviruses, which are found in pig DNA. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 11 Oct. 2023 Then the group identified just a portion of the gene that could be inactivated and still turn on fetal hemoglobin—a safer approach, since genes often have many functions. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 19 Dec. 2023 The excess ink that remains inactivated by the ultrasound will still remain fluid, Yao told STAT. Deborah Balthazar, STAT, 7 Dec. 2023 This causes micro-thermal injuries to the sweat glands that temporarily inactivates them. Petra Guglielmetti, Glamour, 13 Nov. 2023 Additional studies since then showed no difference in efficacy between phenylephrine and a placebo, likely because phenylephrine taken by mouth is inactivated in the gut. Lucas Berenbrok, Fortune Well, 26 Oct. 2023 The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, shown in gray, can be inactivated by nanobodies, shown in red and green. Christina Szalinski, Discover Magazine, 22 Feb. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inactivate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inactivate was in 1906

Dictionary Entries Near inactivate

Cite this Entry

“Inactivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inactivate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

inactivate

verb
in·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˈ)in-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce inactivate (audio)
: to make inactive
inactivation noun

Medical Definition

inactivate

transitive verb
in·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˈ)in-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce inactivate (audio)
inactivated; inactivating
: to make inactive: as
a
: to destroy certain biological activities of
inactivate the complement of normal serum by heat
b
: to cause (as an infectious agent) to lose disease-producing capacity
inactivate bacteria
inactivation noun
inactivator noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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