adj
Uncommon
stagnant
STAG-nuhnt
Stagnant (adj) means not flowing or moving, and therefore often stale or unhealthy — usually said of water. Example: “Mosquitoes bred in the stagnant pond behind the house.”
adj
1
Not flowing or moving, and therefore often stale or unhealthy — usually said of water.
"Mosquitoes bred in the stagnant pond behind the house."
2
Showing no growth, change, or progress.
"Wages have remained stagnant for years despite rising prices."
How to use stagnant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot moving or not improving — used for both still water and stalled progress.
Common pairings
stagnant water
stagnant economy
stagnant wages
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more stagnant
- Superlative
- most stagnant
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Mosquitoes bred in the _____ pond behind the house.
Etymology
From Latin stagnans, "forming standing water," from stagnum, a pool.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “stagnant” mean?
The word “stagnant” means not flowing or moving, and therefore often stale or unhealthy — usually said of water. In plain terms, not moving or not improving — used for both still water and stalled progress.
How do you pronounce “stagnant”?
“Stagnant” is pronounced STAG-nuhnt (/ˈstæɡnənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “stagnant” in a sentence?
Here is “stagnant” used in a sentence: “Mosquitoes bred in the stagnant pond behind the house.”
What part of speech is “stagnant”?
“Stagnant” is an adjective.
Where does the word “stagnant” come from?
The word “stagnant” comes from Latin. From Latin stagnans, "forming standing water," from stagnum, a pool.
Is “stagnant” a common word?
“Stagnant” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “stagnant” have?
“Stagnant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not flowing or moving, and therefore often stale or unhealthy — usually said of water.
