# inactive

/ˌɪˈnæktɪv/ (US) · /ɪnˈæktɪv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inactive
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. not working or moving

adjective · CEFR B2

not doing anything or not working at the moment.

For teachers: not currently functioning, operating, or engaged in activity.

- The volcano has been inactive for over a hundred years.
- The account was flagged as inactive after the user failed to log in for six consecutive months.

### 2. not physically active

adjective · CEFR B2

not doing much exercise or physical work.

For teachers: characterised by a lack of physical exertion or exercise.

- If you are inactive for too long, you might start to feel stiff.
- Medical professionals warn that an inactive lifestyle significantly increases the risk of developing chronic cardiovascular conditions.

### 3. chemically inert

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

not causing a chemical reaction.

For teachers: exhibiting little or no chemical reactivity under specified conditions.

- The gas is inactive and does not react with other chemicals.
- The catalyst remains inactive until the temperature of the chamber reaches four hundred degrees Celsius.

### 4. a person who does nothing

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal

someone who does not take part in an activity or take action.

For teachers: a person who remains passive or fails to take necessary action during an event.

- The leader criticised the inactives in the group for not helping with the project.
- The report distinguished between those who protested and the inactives who merely watched from the sidelines.

## Examples

- The volcano has been inactive for hundreds of years.
- The bank closed my account because it had been inactive for over two years.
- The catalyst remains inactive until the temperature reaches a specific threshold, at which point the chemical reaction begins to accelerate rapidly.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.