Inactive: meaning, definitions and examples

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inactive

 

[ ɪnˈæktɪv ]

Adjective / Noun
Context #1 | Adjective

state of being

Not engaging in physical or mental activity; not functioning or operating.

Synonyms

dormant, idle, motionless, passive

Examples of usage

  • He has been inactive since he retired.
  • The inactive volcano hasn't erupted in centuries.
  • Her inactive lifestyle led to weight gain.
Context #2 | Noun

military

A member of the reserve force who is not on active duty.

Synonyms

non-active duty member, reservist

Examples of usage

  • He was called up from the inactive reserves for deployment.
  • The inactive soldiers were on standby for emergencies.

Translations

Translations of the word "inactive" in other languages:

🇵🇹 inativo

🇮🇳 निष्क्रिय

🇩🇪 inaktiv

🇮🇩 tidak aktif

🇺🇦 неактивний

🇵🇱 nieaktywny

🇯🇵 非活性

🇫🇷 inactif

🇪🇸 inactivo

🇹🇷 etkisiz

🇰🇷 비활성

🇸🇦 غير نشط

🇨🇿 neaktivní

🇸🇰 neaktívny

🇨🇳 不活跃

🇸🇮 neaktiven

🇮🇸 óvirkur

🇰🇿 белсенді емес

🇬🇪 უკვეაქტიურ

🇦🇿 fərsiz

🇲🇽 inactivo

Etymology

The word 'inactive' originated from the Latin word 'inactivus', which means 'not working'. It first appeared in the English language in the mid-17th century. Over time, 'inactive' has been used to describe a lack of activity or movement in various contexts, from physical to military. The concept of being inactive has been associated with rest, dormancy, or non-participation.

See also: activewear, activism, activist, inactively, proactive.

Word Frequency Rank

Position #8,321 indicates this is an advanced-level word. While not essential for basic communication, it will enhance your ability to understand and create more nuanced content.