US /ʌnˈæktɪv/ UK /ʌnˈæktɪv/
adj Freq #544481

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    not active; lacking activity, agency, or power to produce an effect

    The philosopher described matter as unactive unless moved by an external cause.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adj · not active; lacking... inactiveinertpassive
Opposites
Word family
Derived forms unactively
Related forms activeactivity

Etymology

Formed from un- + active. Although inactive became the usual modern form, unactive remained useful in older philosophical writing for what lacks causal agency.

Topics

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