deactivate

verb

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

transitive verb

: to make inactive or ineffective
deactivate a bomb
deactivate a chemical compound
deactivation
(ˌ)dē-ˌak-tə-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce deactivate (audio)
noun
deactivator
(ˌ)dē-ˈak-tə-ˌvā-tər How to pronounce deactivate (audio)
noun

Synonyms of deactivate

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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.
The account has been deactivated and was subsequently banned by the social media platform, which noted that the content of his livestream related to self-harm violated TikTok’s community guidelines. — Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026 Landon deactivated her personal and campaign Facebook pages in June after the election. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 5 Aug. 2026 Additionally, standard formulas quickly deactivate upon contact with pavement or dust, failing to prevent new seeds trapped in the cracks from sprouting days later. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026 City governments have joined in by deactivating the cameras or canceling contracts with Flock in Fort Collins, Colorado; Eugene, Oregon; Madison, Wisconsin; Knoxville, Tennessee; Syracuse, New York; and Walla Walla, Washington. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for deactivate

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deactivate was in 1920

Rhymes for deactivate

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Browse Nearby Words

deacon seat
deactivate
deacylate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Deactivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deactivate. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

deactivate

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

More from Merriam-Webster on deactivate

Nglish: Translation of deactivate for Spanish Speakers

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