First Known Use: 1666
Dictionary
stagnant
adjective stag·nant \ˈstag-nənt\
: not flowing
: not active, changing, or progressing
Full Definition of STAGNANT
1
a : not flowing in a current or stream <stagnant water> b : stale <long disuse had made the air stagnant and foul — Bram Stoker>
2
: not advancing or developing <a stagnant economy>
— stag·nan·cy \-nən(t)-sē\ noun
— stag·nant·ly adverb
See stagnant defined for English-language learners
See stagnant defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Examples of STAGNANT
- … many people who make their living in academia are reasonably well insulated from financial devastation. For most tenured faculty, the worst they are likely to experience is stagnant pay and deferred retirement. —Andrew Delbanco, New York Review of Books, 14 May 2009
- “For adults, entertainment needs to be relevant to their life.” Chen points to the stagnant US comic book industry as an example of irrelevance. “I don't want to see video games become like American superhero comics,” he admits. “American comics live and die based on a very niche audience. In Japan, comics are a national art form.” —Sid Shuman, Gamepro, May 2009
- The blue-green algae blooms can occur in both freshwater and saltwater environments, but are most commonly found in stagnant bodies of water enriched by runoff, Paerl said. Public health officials in the southeastern United States are beginning to monitor water supplies for some of the toxins. —Bridget M. Kuehn, Journal of the American Medical Association, 25 May 2005
- [+]more
Origin of STAGNANT
(see stagnate)
STAGNANTLY Defined for Kids
stagnant
adjective stag·nant \ˈstag-nənt\
Definition of STAGNANT for Kids
1
: not flowing <a stagnant pool>
2
: not active or brisk : dull <stagnant business>
Learn More About STAGNANT
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up stagnant? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).