inactivate

verb

in·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˌ)i-ˈnak-tə-ˌvāt 

inactivated; inactivating; inactivates

transitive verb

: to make inactive

chemicals to inactivate viruses

inactivation

(ˌ)i-ˌnak-tə-ˈvā-shən 

noun

Examples of inactivate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The final step is ultraviolet disinfection, which uses high-intensity ultraviolet light to kill or inactivate viruses and parasites, such as giardia. — Piper Heath, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Part of Chi-CARN's supplies also includes COVID tests and other tools like far-UVC lighting, which uses a specific wavelength of light to inactivate airborne viruses and bacteria. — Mikayla Price, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

But most of the non-coding DNA is junk—the remains of ancient viral infections, DNA-level parasites, genes that have been inactivated by mutation, and so on. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026

The second reason is to determine whether and how sewage treatment removes, inactivates or kills pathogens. — Joan Rose, The Conversation, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inactivate

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

Kids Definition

inactivate

verb

in·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˈ)in-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt 

: to make inactive

inactivation

(ˌ)in-ˌak-tə-ˈvā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

inactivate

transitive verb

in·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˈ)in-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt 

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

(ˌ)in-ˌak-tə-ˈvā-shən 

noun

inactivator

-ˌvāt-ər 

noun