stagnation

noun

stag·​na·​tion stag-ˈnā-shən 

: a stagnant state or condition : a state or condition marked by lack of flow, movement, or development

In short, the increasing contamination and stagnation of the segment of river had become a matter of concern.

—Ryan Holifield and Nick Schuelke

In 1664, when plague had struck Amsterdam again, with the usual stagnation of trade that followed its worst attacks, the sight of a shooting star was taken as axiomatic confirmation of divine displeasure.

—Simon Schama

Examples of stagnation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The fear of stagnation, of ending up on autopilot, a fear of repetition, of just getting stuck. —William Earl, Variety, 11 June 2025

As the United Kingdom learned after Brexit, uncertainty produces grinding stagnation in capital investment and R & D by private companies. —Jonathan Haskel, Foreign Affairs, 10 June 2025

Operational workflows are often the difference between speed and stagnation. —Kristin Russel, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025

Then there was the era of oil shocks, a productivity slowdown and wage stagnation, from 1973 to 1994. —David Brooks, Mercury News, 31 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stagnation

• ablation
• bination
• carnation
• cassation
• castration
• causation
• centration
• cessation
• cetacean
• chelation
• citation
• collation