deactivate

verb

de·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˌ)dē-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt 

deactivated; deactivating; deactivates

transitive verb

: to make inactive or ineffective

deactivate a bomb

deactivate a chemical compound

deactivation

(ˌ)dē-ˌak-tə-ˈvā-shən 

noun

deactivator

(ˌ)dē-ˈak-tə-ˌvā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• kill
• brake
• shut off

Examples of deactivate in a Sentence

deactivate the machine carefully, or you'll risk an electric shock

Recent Examples on the Web

And, with about an hour before kickoff against the Colts, the team deactivated him. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2025

Don’t use it during the day, since the sunlight can deactivate the active ingredient, and always pair its use with a moisturizer in order to offset any drying effects, adds Isaacs. —Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2025

Officers would not be allowed to deactivate cameras, under her proposal, except in limited cases involving privacy or tactical safety. —Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 9 Oct. 2025

His co-workers then rushed to deactivate the machine and pull him free. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for deactivate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

deactivate

verb

de·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˈ)dē-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt 

: to make inactive or ineffective

deactivation

(ˌ)dē-ˌak-tə-ˈvā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

deactivate

transitive verb

de·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˈ)dē-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt 

deactivated; deactivating

1

: to make inactive or ineffective

2

: to deprive of chemical activity

deactivate an enzyme

deactivation

-ˌak-tə-ˈvā-shən 

noun