deactivate

verb

de·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˌ)dē-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce deactivate (audio)
deactivated; deactivating; deactivates

transitive verb

: to make inactive or ineffective
deactivate a bomb
deactivate a chemical compound
deactivation noun

Examples of deactivate in a Sentence

deactivate the machine carefully, or you'll risk an electric shock
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, the legal war that ensued between Baldoni and Lively after the movie's release was something Hoover could not anticipate, and in the midst of the back-and-forth between the two stars, the writer deactivated her Instagram account, according to People magazine. Tracy Wright, Fox News, 24 Feb. 2025 The Spanish star, who made history as the first openly transgender acting nominee at several awards shows, deactivated her X account on Jan. 31, and apologized after making various statements that drew backlash. Jen Juneau, People.com, 17 Feb. 2025 The Rapid Trigger feature eliminates the latency between key presses because they’re deactivated instantly on release and can activate again on a press. Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2025 On Sunday evening, West seemed to deactivate his own account. Jordan Valinsky, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deactivate

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deactivate was in 1926

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Cite this Entry

“Deactivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deactivate. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

deactivate

verb
de·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˈ)dē-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce deactivate (audio)
: to make inactive or ineffective
deactivation noun

Medical Definition

deactivate

transitive verb
de·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˈ)dē-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce deactivate (audio)
deactivated; deactivating
1
: to make inactive or ineffective
2
: to deprive of chemical activity
deactivate an enzyme
deactivation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on deactivate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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