# stagnation

/stæɡˈneɪʃən/ (US) · /stæɡnˈeɪʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stagnation
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. economic/social lack of growth

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

a long period where an economy or a society does not grow or improve.

For teachers: a prolonged period of little or no growth in an economy or social system. Uncountable in its general sense.

- The country suffered from years of economic stagnation, with few new jobs created.
- Economists warned that without significant structural reform, the nation faced a decade of stagnation and declining living standards.

Usage: Often used with 'economic' or 'industrial'.

### 3. still water or air

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

when water or air stops moving and becomes dirty or smells bad.

For teachers: the state of being still or not flowing, typically resulting in a lack of oxygen or the buildup of pollutants.

- The stagnation of the pond water led to a bad smell and lots of insects.
- The lack of tidal flow caused significant stagnation in the lagoon, negatively impacting the local fish population.

## Examples

- The country is facing a long period of economic stagnation.
- After ten years in the same entry-level role, he began to feel a sense of professional stagnation.
- Economists warn that without significant investment in new technologies, the industrial sector faces a decade of stagnation that could permanently reduce the nation's global competitiveness.

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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.