inactive

When things or people are inactive, they're doing little or nothing. A rock, a couch potato, or a gym membership you haven’t used yet is inactive.

Active has been used since the 14th century to mean "given to worldly activity." If you’re active, you’re out in the world! Therefore inactive people aren’t doing much. Maybe they’re just taking a break — if a player is inactive for a basketball game, she's sitting on the bench. In physics, an inactive object is motionless. If a club is inactive, it hasn't met for awhile. When things are inactive, there's not much going on.

Definitions of inactive
  1. adjective
    not active physically or mentally
    “illness forced him to live an inactive life”
    “dreamy and inactive by nature”
    Synonyms:
    desk-bound, deskbound
    restricted to working in an office rather than in an active physical capacity
    abeyant, dormant
    inactive but capable of becoming active
    hypoactive, underactive
    abnormally inactive
    inert, sluggish, soggy, torpid
    slow and apathetic
    sedentary
    requiring sitting or little activity
    lethargic, unenergetic
    deficient in alertness or activity
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    active
    characterized by energetic activity
    about, astir
    on the move
    acrobatic, athletic, gymnastic
    vigorously active
    agile, nimble, quick, spry
    moving quickly and lightly
    hot
    marked by excited activity
    hyperactive, overactive
    more active than normal
    on the go
    (of a person) very busy and active
    sporty
    appropriate for sport or engagement in a sport
    lively
    full of life and energy
    energetic
    possessing or exerting or displaying energy
    show more antonyms...
  2. adjective
    lacking activity; lying idle or unused
    “an inactive mine”
    “inactive accounts”
    “inactive machinery”
    Synonyms:
    dark
    not giving performances; closed
    dead
    devoid of activity
    dull, slow, sluggish
    (of business) not active or brisk
    idle, unused
    not in active use
    strikebound
    closed or immobilized by a strike
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    active
    full of activity or engaged in continuous activity
    brisk
    very active
    bustling
    full of energetic and noisy activity
    busy
    crowded with or characterized by much activity
    going
    in full operation
    open
    ready for business
    springy
    (of movements) light and confidently active
    show more antonyms...
  3. adjective
    not engaged in full-time work
    “inactive reserve”
    “an inactive member”
    Synonyms:
    off
    not performing or scheduled for duties
    retired
    no longer active in your work or profession
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    active
    engaged in full-time work
    activated
    (military) set up and placed on active assignment
    show more antonyms...
  4. adjective
    not in physical motion
    synonyms: motionless, static, still
    nonmoving, unmoving
    not in motion
  5. adjective
    lacking in energy or will
    synonyms: passive
    hands-off
    not involving participation or intervention
    resistless, supine, unresisting
    offering no resistance
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    active
    disposed to take action or effectuate change
    activist, activistic
    advocating or engaged in activism
    hands-on
    involving active participation
    proactive
    (of a policy or person or action) controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than waiting to respond to it after it happens
    show more antonyms...
  6. adjective
    (military) not involved in military operations
    synonyms: nonoperational
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    operational
    (military) of or intended for or involved in military operations
    active, combat-ready, fighting
    engaged in or ready for military or naval operations
    effective
    ready for service
    show more antonyms...
  7. adjective
    not exerting influence or change
    Synonyms:
    quiescent
    not active or activated
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    active
    exerting influence or producing a change or effect
    activated
    rendered active; e.g. rendered radioactive or luminescent or photosensitive or conductive
    counteractive
    opposing or neutralizing or mitigating an effect by contrary action
    surface-active
    capable of lowering the surface tension of a liquid; used especially of detergents
    show more antonyms...
  8. adjective
    (chemistry) not participating in a chemical reaction; chemically inert
    “desired amounts of inactive chlorine”
    Synonyms:
    unreactive
    (chemistry) not reacting chemically
  9. adjective
    (pathology) not progressing or increasing; or progressing slowly
    Synonyms:
    dead-end
    lacking opportunities for development or advancement
    flat
    commercially inactive
    indolent
    (of tumors, e.g.) slow to heal or develop and usually painless
    latent
    (pathology) not presently active
    quiescent
    (pathology) causing no symptoms
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    active
    tending to become more severe or wider in scope
    progressive
    advancing in severity
    show more antonyms...
  10. adjective
    (of e.g. volcanos) not erupting and not extinct
    synonyms: dormant
    quiescent
    being quiet or still or inactive
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    active
    (of e.g. volcanos) erupting or liable to erupt
    eruptive
    actively spewing out lava
    show more antonyms...
Word Family
EDITOR’S CHOICE

Test prep from the experts

Boost your test score with programs developed by Vocabulary.com’s experts.

  • Proven methods: Learn faster, remember longer with our scientific approach.
  • Personalized plan: We customize your experience to maximize your learning.
  • Strategic studying: Focus on the words that are most crucial for success.

SAT/PSAT

$29.95
  • Number of words: 500+
  • Duration: 8 weeks or less
  • Time: 1 hour / week
Learn more

TOEFL

$29.95
  • Number of words: 500+
  • Duration: 10 weeks or less
  • Time: 1 hour / week
Learn more

ACT

$29.95
  • Number of words: 700+
  • Duration: 10 weeks
  • Time: 1 hour / week
Learn more