Inactive vs. Unactive — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 19, 2024
The correct spelling is "Inactive" while "Unactive" is incorrect. "Inactive" means not active or not engaged in action.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Inactive or Unactive
How to spell Inactive?
Inactive
Correct Spelling
Unactive
Incorrect Spelling
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Key Differences
"In-" is a common prefix meaning "not", as in "inaccurate".
The phrase "In the active phase" can remind you that "Inactive" starts with "In".
Notice that software and technology usually use "Inactive" to describe non-active features.
"Un-" is often used with adjectives, like "unhappy", but "active" traditionally pairs with "in-".
Think of similar words like "inaccurate" or "inadequate" to remember the right prefix.
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How Do You Spell Unactive Correctly?
Incorrect: The committee has remained unactive since the project's completion.
Correct: The committee has remained inactive since the project's completion.
Incorrect: She found that the volcano was unactive, not posing any immediate threat.
Correct: She found that the volcano was inactive, not posing any immediate threat.
Incorrect: The device turns off automatically when it's unactive for 10 minutes.
Correct: The device turns off automatically when it's inactive for 10 minutes.
Incorrect: The account has been unactive for over a year.
Correct: The account has been inactive for over a year.
Incorrect: His gym membership became unactive after he stopped paying the fees.
Correct: His gym membership became inactive after he stopped paying the fees.
Inactive Definitions
Inactive refers to something not in use or operation.
The machinery has been inactive for years.
Inactive describes someone not participating in an activity.
After the injury, he became an inactive member of the team.
Inactive pertains to not engaging in physical movement.
He's been inactive and needs to exercise more.
Inactive denotes something not currently producing effects or results.
The volcano is inactive but monitored closely.
Inactive can indicate a lack of chemical reactivity.
Noble gases are largely inactive.
Inactive is a TRPV channel in invertebrates. Inactive mutant flies show locomotor and hearing deficits.
Not engaging in or involving any or much physical activity
An inactive lifestyle
Not active or tending to be active
Inactive students at risk for gaining weight.
Not functioning or operating; out of use
Inactive machinery.
Not being in continuous use or operation
An inactive brokerage account.
Retired from duty or service
Inactive military personnel.
(Chemistry) Not readily participating in chemical reactions; inert.
(Medicine) Marked by the absence or lessening of disease activity.
(Physics) Showing no optical activity in polarized light.
Not active, temporarily or permanently.
The volcano is inactive, but is only dormant.
Inactive user accounts may be deleted after 90 days.
Not engaging in physical activity.
Not functioning or operating; broken down
The photocopier is inactive pending repair.
Retired from duty or service.
Admiral Jones is now on the inactive list.
(chemistry) Relatively inert.
Aluminium is inactive towards water.
A person who does not take action.
Not active; having no power to move; that does not or can not produce results; inert; as, matter is, of itself, inactive.
Not disposed to action or effort; not diligent or industrious; not busy; idle; as, an inactive officer.
Not exhibiting any action or activity on polarized light; optically inactive; optically neutral; - said of isomeric forms of certain substances, in distinction from other forms which are optically active; as, racemic acid is an inactive tartaric acid.
Lacking biological or biochemical activity; not causing a specific biological or biochemical effect; - said of substances such as enzymes which have lost their catalytic power, or of small molecules which are tested for some type of biological activity and found to lack that activity; as, after boiling for ten minutes, the enzyme was totally inactive; the methyl analog was inactive as an antibiotic.
Not participating in a chemical reaction;
Desired amounts of inactive chlorine
Not progressing or increasing; or progressing slowly
Not active or exerting influence
Of e.g. volcanos; permanently inactive;
An extinct volcano
Of e.g. volcanos; temporarily inactive;
A dormant volcano
Lacking in energy or will;
Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself
Lacking activity; lying idle or unused;
An inactive mine
Inactive accounts
Inactive machinery
Not engaged in full-time work;
Inactive reserve
An inactive member of the department
Not active physically or mentally;
Illness forced him to live an inactive life
Dreamy and inactive by nature
Not engaged in military action
Not in physical motion;
The inertia of an object at rest
Temporarily inactive
Inactive Meaning in a Sentence
Many inactive volcanoes are still considered potentially dangerous.
The software automatically logs out users who are inactive for more than 20 minutes.
Their investigation went inactive after leading to a dead end.
He's been inactive on social media, leading to rumors about his whereabouts.
The athlete became inactive due to a career-ending injury.
The once popular website has been inactive for years, serving as a digital ghost town.
Their response to the crisis was criticized as being too inactive.
The bank account will be considered inactive if there's no activity for 12 months.
The disease can remain inactive in the body for years before symptoms appear.
The factory has been inactive since the company moved its operations overseas.
After retiring, she remained inactive for a while before taking up painting.
Several inactive ingredients in the medication are used to improve its taste.
An inactive lifestyle can lead to various health issues.
Inactive accounts may be deleted after a certain period of inactivity.
She deactivated her inactive email accounts to simplify her digital life.
Inactive subscribers are periodically removed from the newsletter list.
The investigation remains inactive, pending new evidence.
The construction site has been inactive since the funding ran out.
The committee is currently inactive but will reconvene when necessary.
Inactive members of the club may lose their privileges if they don't participate.
During winter, many animals become inactive or hibernate.
The missile silo has been inactive since the end of the Cold War.
His blog became inactive once he started college and had less free time.
The charity has been inactive, not hosting any events or fundraisers recently.
While the disease is inactive, patients may experience no symptoms.
Inactive Idioms & Phrases
Inactive status
The condition of not being in use, operation, or work.
The machinery was left in inactive status, awaiting the next project.
Go inactive
To stop participating or cease to be active.
The agent decided to go inactive after years of service.
Inactive period
A span of time during which nothing happens or no activity occurs.
The business experiences an inactive period during the off-season.
Common Curiosities
What is the verb form of Inactive?
The verb form related to "Inactive" is "inactivate."
Which vowel is used before Inactive?
The vowel "i" is used before "Inactive."
What is the singular form of Inactive?
"Inactive" is an adjective; it does not have a singular or plural form.
Is Inactive an abstract noun?
No, "Inactive" is not an abstract noun.
Which article is used with Inactive?
Typically, the articles "an" or "the" can be used before "Inactive" depending on the context.
What is the pronunciation of Inactive?
It is pronounced as /ɪnˈæktɪv/.
What is the root word of Inactive?
The root word is "active."
What is the plural form of Inactive?
"Inactive" does not have a plural form.
Which conjunction is used with Inactive?
Any conjunction can be used with "Inactive" based on the sentence structure.
Why is it called Inactive?
It's called "Inactive" because it describes something that is not active or not currently in use.
Is Inactive an adverb?
No, "Inactive" is not an adverb.
Is Inactive a negative or positive word?
"Inactive" is neutral but can have negative connotations in contexts where activity is expected or valued.
Which preposition is used with Inactive?
The preposition used with "Inactive" varies by context. Examples include "inactive for" or "inactive in."
Is Inactive a countable noun?
"Inactive" is an adjective, not a noun.
Is the word Inactive imperative?
No, "Inactive" is not imperative.
What is another term for Inactive?
Another term for "Inactive" could be "dormant."
Is Inactive a collective noun?
No, "Inactive" is not a collective noun.
Is the Inactive term a metaphor?
By itself, "Inactive" is not a metaphor, but it can be used metaphorically.
Is Inactive a vowel or consonant?
"Inactive" is a word, not a single letter. It contains both vowels and consonants.
What is a stressed syllable in Inactive?
The second syllable "ac" is stressed in "Inactive."
What part of speech is Inactive?
"Inactive" is an adjective.
How is Inactive used in a sentence?
The software feature remained inactive until the user enabled it.
Is Inactive a noun or adjective?
"Inactive" is an adjective.
How many syllables are in Inactive?
There are three syllables in "Inactive."
Is the word Inactive a gerund?
No, "Inactive" is not a gerund.
Is the word “Inactive” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Inactive" is an adjective, not an object.
How do we divide Inactive into syllables?
It divides as In-ac-tive.
What is the opposite of Inactive?
The opposite of "Inactive" is "active."
Which determiner is used with Inactive?
Determiners like "an," "the," or "some" can be used with "Inactive."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
