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.
Some have historically failed to deactivate – a Government Accountability Report found nearly 2,000 failed to self-destruct during the 1990-91 Gulf War. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024 On Elon Musk's X, more than 115,000 users deactivated their accounts, the largest-ever mass exit from the platform. Bobby Allyn, NPR, 19 Nov. 2024 An election judge can order people to deactivate or turn off the devices on-site. Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 5 Nov. 2024 Finally, on January 30, her subscription was deactivated. Jeff Kauflin, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near deactivate

Cite this Entry

“Deactivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deactivate. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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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