stagnant
/ˈstæɡnənt/ adjective
- adjective Lacking flow or motion, and thus usually not fresh or healthy; decaying through stillness. “a stagnant pool stagnant water”
- adjective (figurative) Without activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; inactive, stale. “a stagnant economy stagnant prices”
Synonyms
Etymology
From French stagnant, from Latin stagnans, present participle of stagno (“to form a pool of standing water”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective That stagnates; not flowing; not running in a current or steam; motionless; hence, impure or foul from want of motion; as, a stagnant lake or pond; stagnant blood in the veins.
- adjective Not active or brisk; dull; as, business in stagnant.
Etymology [L. stagnans, -antis, p.pr. of stagnare. See Stagnate.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “stagnant”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details