inactive

play

adjective in·ac·tive \ (ˌ)i-ˈnak-tiv \

Definition of inactive

:not active: such as

a (1) :sedentary

(2) :indolent, sluggish

b (1) :being out of use

(2) :relating to or being members of the armed forces who are not performing or available for military duties

(3) of a disease :quiescent

c (1) :chemically inert

(2) :optically neutral in polarized light

d :biologically inert especially because of the loss of some quality (such as infectivity or antigenicity)

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inactively

adverb

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inactivity

play \(ˌ)i-ˌnak-ˈti-və-tē\ noun

See inactive defined for English-language learners

See inactive defined for kids

Examples of inactive in a Sentence

Inactive people suffer higher rates of heart disease.
it's easiest to catch snakes early in the morning, while they're still cold and inactive

Recent Examples of inactive from the Web

McGregor landed effectively with lead right jabs and connected with a left uppercut that highlighted McGregor’s early fight performance against an inactive Mayweather.

— by santos a. perez, miamiherald, "After beating Conor McGregor, Floyd Mayweather says he’s retiring from boxing — again," 27 Aug. 2017
Also Sunday, cornerback Jason Verrett was inactive for the game at the team’s stadium in Carson.

— tom krasovic, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Rivers not playing vs. Saints," 20 Aug. 2017
Minor signed with Winnipeg, spending the first month of the season on the inactive list.

— michael osipoff, Post-Tribune, "For starters, Daniel Minor deal begins to work out for RailCats," 15 Aug. 2017
In a court filing Monday, Justice attorneys took the opposite position from the Obama administration in a case that involved the state's removal of thousands of inactive voters from the Ohio voting rolls.

— sari horwitz, chicagotribune.com, "Justice Department seeks to allow Ohio to purge inactive voters from rolls," 8 Aug. 2017
By the summer of 2015, work on the telescope had been underway for more than 3 years, and opponents were largely inactive after almost a decade of court challenges that failed to stop the project.

— ilima loomis, Science | AAAS, "How the world’s largest solar telescope rose on Maui while nearby protests derailed a larger scope," 1 Aug. 2017
To add insult to injury, those who worked long hours were also more likely to be obese, inactive during their free time, depressed, and anxious.

— sarah rense, Esquire, "Working Long Hours Might Literally Be Killing You," 25 July 2017
Francis has files on old, inactive cases, King said.

— edmund h. mahony, courant.com, "Judge Calls Fugitive Hartford Lawyer 'Mind-Boggling'," 25 July 2017
The active - instead of inactive - designation means Lawrence remains on the Saints' 90-player roster and will be able to join practice whenever he is cleared medically.

— mark inabinett, AL.com, "Devaroe Lawrence starts New Orleans Saints' training camp on NFI," 20 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'inactive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of inactive

1664

inactive Synonyms

Synonyms

dull, inert, lethargic, quiescent, sleepy, sluggish, torpid

Antonyms

active

Related Words

ambitionless, apathetic, indolent, languorous, lazy, lazyish, listless, shiftless, slack, slothful, sluggard, sluggardly; dormant, inanimate, motionless, resting, sedentary, static, still; dead; dopey (also dopy), drugged; asleep, drowsy, somnambulant; catatonic, comatose

Near Antonyms

busy, engaged, occupied, working; animated, bouncing, dynamic, energetic, kinetic, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightly, springy, vigorous, vital, vivacious, zippy; assiduous, diligent, hardworking, industrious, sedulous

Synonym Discussion of inactive

inactive, idle, inert, passive, supine mean not engaged in work or activity. inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work.

- on inactive status as an astronaut
- inactive accounts

idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements.

- workers were idle in the fields

inert as applied to things implies powerlessness to move or to affect other things; as applied to persons it suggests an inherent or habitual indisposition to activity.

- inert ingredients in drugs
- an inert citizenry

passive implies immobility or lack of normally expected response to an external force or influence and often suggests deliberate submissiveness or self-control.

- passive resistance

supine applies only to persons and commonly implies abjectness or indolence.

- a supine willingness to play the fool

INACTIVE Defined for English Language Learners

inactive

play

adjective

Definition of inactive for English Language Learners

: not doing things that require physical movement and energy : not exercising
: not involved in the activities of a group or organization
: no longer being used : not currently being used

INACTIVE Defined for Kids

inactive

play

adjective in·ac·tive \ i-ˈnak-tiv \

Definition of inactive for Students

:not active or in use

an inactive volcano

inactive mines

Medical Dictionary

inactive

play

adjective in·ac·tive \ (ˈ)in-ˈak-tiv \

medical Definition of inactive

:not active: as

a :marked by deliberate or enforced absence of activity or effort

forced by illness to lead an inactive life

b of a disease :not progressing or fulminant :quiescent

c (1) :chemically inert

inactive charcoal

(2) :not exhibiting optical activity in polarized light

d :biologically inert especially because of the loss of some quality (as infectivity or antigenicity)

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inactivity

play \(ˌ)in-ˌak-ˈtiv-ət-ē\ noun plural inacties

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Examples of inactive in a Sentence

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First Known Use of inactive

inactive Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of inactive

INACTIVE Defined for English Language Learners

inactive

Definition of inactive for English Language Learners

INACTIVE Defined for Kids

inactive

Definition of inactive for Students

Medical Dictionary

inactive

medical Definition of inactive

inactivity

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