Inaction: meaning, definitions and examples

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inaction

 

[ ɪnˈækʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

lack of movement

Inaction refers to the state of not taking any action or not moving forward. It can be a result of indecision, procrastination, or simply a lack of motivation. Inaction can lead to missed opportunities and stagnation.

Synonyms

idleness, inactivity, lethargy, passivity

Examples of usage

  • His inaction on the matter only made the situation worse.
  • The company's inaction resulted in losing a major client.
  • She regretted her inaction when she saw the consequences of not speaking up.
Context #2 | Noun

lack of progress

Inaction can also refer to the lack of progress or development in a particular situation or project. It often stems from a lack of initiative or leadership. Inaction in this sense can hinder growth and success.

Synonyms

inertia, stagnation, stalemate, standstill

Examples of usage

  • The project suffered from inaction as no one took the lead.
  • The government's inaction on climate change is causing serious consequences.
  • His inaction in addressing the issue delayed the resolution.

Translations

Translations of the word "inaction" in other languages:

🇵🇹 inação

🇮🇳 निष्क्रियता

🇩🇪 Untätigkeit

🇮🇩 ketidakaktifan

🇺🇦 бездіяльність

🇵🇱 bezczynność

🇯🇵 不作為

🇫🇷 inaction

🇪🇸 inacción

🇹🇷 eylemsizlik

🇰🇷 무활동

🇸🇦 عدم الفعل

🇨🇿 nečinnost

🇸🇰 nečinnosť

🇨🇳 无所作为

🇸🇮 neaktivnost

🇮🇸 aðgerðarleysi

🇰🇿 әрекетсіздік

🇬🇪 უმოქმედობა

🇦🇿 hərəkətsizlik

🇲🇽 inacción

Etymology

The word 'inaction' originated from the combination of the prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' and the word 'action'. It first appeared in the English language in the early 17th century. The concept of inaction has been explored in various philosophical and psychological contexts, highlighting its impact on decision-making and outcomes.

See also: actions.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #15,513, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.