Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

inactive

/ɪnˈæktɪv/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.63 in modern English

Syllables: in-ac-tive
IPA: /ɪnˈæktɪv/

13

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Not active, temporarily or permanently.

adj

Not engaging in physical activity.

adj

Not functioning or operating; broken down

adj

Retired from duty or service.

adj

Relatively inert.

adj

Showing no optical activity in polarized light.

noun

A person who does not take action.

Example Sentences

"The volcano is inactive, but is only dormant."
"Inactive user accounts may be deleted after 90 days."
"[…] exercise in general will lead to dramatic improvements in comparison with an inactive lifestyle."
"The photocopier is inactive pending repair."
"Admiral Jones is now on the inactive list."
"Aluminium is inactive towards water."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Italic *n̥- Latin in- Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus ▲ Ancient Greek ἐνεργητῐκός (energētĭkós)sl. Latin āctīvus Latin ināctīvuslbor. French inactifder. English inactive From French inactif. Piecewise doublet of unactive.

Origin

Source language: French

Word Breakdown

Root: inactif

Inflected Forms

more inactive (comparative) most inactive (superlative) inactives (plural)

Derived Forms

bioinactive inactivate inactivation inactively inactiveness inactivity inactose photoinactive

Phrases

inactive ingredient

Frequently Paired Words

delayed

Synonyms

dull dormant idle abeyant at rest cessant fallow hibernating inactive inert languid latent

Antonyms

antonym(s) of active in action

Rhymes With

active attractive interactive radioactive reactive proactive unattractive retroactive refractive hyperactive overactive photorefractive

Questions

How do you pronounce inactive?: The recorded pronunciation is /ɪnˈæktɪv/.
What does inactive mean?: Not active, temporarily or permanently.
Where does inactive come from?: It is traced to French.

How to pronounce inactive

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “inactive”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ɪnˈæktɪv/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “inactive”.
Repeat and practice — Say “inactive” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.