Dictionary

stagnation en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• audio Colorado
• audio North Carolina
• /stɛɡˈnæɪʃən/ (New-Zealand)
• /stæɡˈneɪʃn̩/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /stæɡˈneɪʃən/ (Canada, General-American)
• /stæɡˈnæɪʃən/ (Australia)

Etymology

From stagnate + -ation (suffix denoting an action or process, or its result), Stagnate is derived from stagnāt-, the participial stem of Latin stagnāre, the present active infinitive of stāgnō (“of waters: to cover the land as a lake, to become a pool, to stagnate”), from stāgnum (“body of standing water (lake, swamp, etc.)”) (possibly from Proto-Indo-European *steh₂g- (“to drip; to seep”)) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs).

Meanings

1. (uncountable) The state of being stagnant; (countable) an instance of this. ▸ The state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; (countable) an instance of this.
   • The heat was excessive, and unaccountable; not the slightest breath of wind moved in the heavens, or below; no clouds to be seen, and the stars were obscured by a sort of mist: there appeared a total stagnation in the elements. 1833, [Frederick Marryat], chapter VIII, in Peter Simple. […], volume III, London: Saunders and Otley, […], published 1834, →OCLC, page 112:
   • Factors known to encourage the growth of harmful bacteria inside cooling systems include the stagnation of the water.
   • Large-scale weather conditions known as stagnations (slow-moving high-pressure systems) are characterised by a combination of low wind speed and very limjited vertical mixing. Furthermore, they can last for days, leading to very serious buildups of pollutant concentrations. 1976 November, Donald F. Gatz; Stanley A. Changnon, Jr., “Meteorological Influences on Air Pollutant Concentrations”, in Environmental Status of the Lake Michigan Region (ANL/ES-40 vol. 8), volume 8 (Atmospheric Environment of the Lake Michigan Region), Argonne, Ill.: Argonne National Laboratory for the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration, →OCLC, page 96:
   • [S]ometimes at the Bottom of the Deep vvaters there ſeem'd to be a ſtagnation of the Sea for a great depth, ſo that till ſuch a height they [divers] could riſe directly upvvards, but that at other heights they vvould be carried avvay by the leſſe deep-vvaters; ſo as to be found vvhen they came to emerge a great vvay off from that point of the ſurface vvhich vvas perpendicular to that place at the Bottom, vvhence they began to aſcend. 1671, Robert Boyle, “Relations about the Bottom of the Sea. The Third Section.”, in Tracts […]. About the Cosmicall Qualities of Things. […], London: […] W[illiam] H[all] for Ric[hard] Davis, →OCLC, page 16:
   • If the water runneth, it holdeth clear, sweet, and fresh; but stagnation turneth it into a noisome puddle: […] a. 1678 (date written), Isaac Barrow, “Sermon L. Of Industry in General.”, in The Works of Dr. Isaac Barrow. […], volume III, London: A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […], published 1831, →OCLC, page 275:
   • [A]n actual progress of the blood in the pulmonary vessels is brought about [by potassium iodide], a phenomenon explaining the incontested superiority of iodine in all dyspnoeas, which have their origin in a disturbed state of the chemism of respiration, as well as in those of a nervous, arithmatic or cardiacal nature, the latter being connected with blood stagnations in the pulmonary vessels. 1892 January 15, “Material Medica and Pharmacy. Digitaline and Iodide of Potassium.”, in Cha[rle]s W. Moore, editor, The Pacific Record of Medicine and Surgery. A Monthly Résumé of Medical and Pharmaceutical Progress, volume VI, number 6, San Francisco, Calif.: [s.n.], →OCLC, page 175, column 1:
2. (figuratively, uncountable) The state of being stagnant; (countable) an instance of this. ▸ The state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; inactivity, staleness; (countable) an instance of this.
   • I am now in the sixty-fifth year of my age, and having been the greater part of my days a man of pleasure, the decay of my faculties is a stagnation of my life. 1712 January 7 (Gregorian calendar), [Richard Steele], “THURSDAY, December 28, 1711”, in The Spectator, number 260; republished in Alexander Chalmers, editor, The Spectator; a New Edition, […], volume III, New York, N.Y.: D[aniel] Appleton & Company, 1853, →OCLC, page 296:
   • Yes, I have a case. After a month of trivialities and stagnation the wheels move once more. 1922 February–March, Arthur Conan Doyle, “The Problem of Thor Bridge”, in The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, published June 1927, →OCLC, page 172:
   • The general concern about industrial stagnation inspired an overhaul of the patent system.
3. (figuratively, uncountable) The state of being stagnant; (countable) an instance of this. ▸ The state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; inactivity, staleness; (countable) an instance of this. ▸ The state of low or no growth in an economy; (countable) an instance of this.
   • [T]he Credit Cycle, though guilty of disastrous excesses and grave crimes, has a part to play in a progressive society, and […] an attempt to check it altogether might produce stagnation as well as stability. 1930, John Maynard Keynes, “Some Special Aspects of the Credit Cycle”, in A Treatise on Money […], volume I (The Pure Theory of Money), London: Macmillan and Co., […], →OCLC, book IV (The Dynamics of the Price-level), page 293:

Forms

Deriveds

semistagnation · stagnation point · stagnationist · stagflation · stagnational

Relateds

restagnating · stagnatory · stagnate · stagnature · restagnant · stagnance · stagnant · stagnancy · stagnative · unstagnating · restagnate · restagnation

Synonyms

stagnancy · stagnance · stagnancy · restagnation · restagnation · stagnance · stagnancy · restagnation · stagnance

Translations (150)

fi lamaannus (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · vi đình trệ (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · fi lamaantuminen (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ar ركود اقتصادي (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · nl stagnatie (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ro stagnare (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ja 停滞 (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ru вя́лость (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · mg handrona (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · el αποτελμάτωση (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · it stagnazione (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · hy լճացում (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · de Stagnation (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · cmn 停滯 /停滞 (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · mi whakamāraritanga (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ru стагна́ция (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · pl stagnacja (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · ja 不振 (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · da dødvande (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · mi houtetetanga (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · el απονέκρωση (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · sh stagnácija (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · cmn 經濟停滯 /经济停滞 (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · ca estancament (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · he סְטַגְנַצְיָה (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · sq kënétë (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · es empantanamiento (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · es estancamiento (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · vi đình trệ kinh tế (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · ar رُكُود (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · cmn 停滯性 /停滞性 (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · uk стагнація (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · nb stagnasjon (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · mk застој (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · ko 스태그네이션 (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · ko 정체 (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · ro stagnație (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · ca estancació (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · fi seisahtuneisuus (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · nb stagnasjon (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · bg бездействие (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · es estancamiento (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ar رُكُود (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ro nemișcare (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · sv stagnation (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ja 低迷 (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · yue 停滯 /停滞 (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · lv stagnācija (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · nan-hbl 停滯 /停滞 (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · he קיפאון (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · uz turgʻunlik (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · hi गतिहीनता (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · ml നിശ്ചലത (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · fi stagnaatio (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · fr marasme (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · pt estagnação (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · bg стагнация (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · fi lamaantuneisuus (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ka უძრაობა (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ru засто́й (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · fi jähmettyminen (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · bg застояване (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · nn stagnasjon (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · kk тоқырау (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · pt estagnação econômica (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · fr stagnation économique (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · sh стагна́ција (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · fi seisominen (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · fi pysähtyneisyys (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ja 淀み (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · ml കെട്ടിക്കിടക്കൽ (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · fi seisetila (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · da stagnation (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · ja 渋滞 (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · id stagnasi ekonomi (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · uz stagnatsiya (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · uk засті́й (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · pl stagnacja (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · fi pysähtyneisyys (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · id kepegunan ekonomi (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · nl stagnatie (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · he סטגנציה (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · pt marasmo (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · vi đình đốn (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · cmn 停滯性 /停滞性 (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · ru засто́й (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · uk стагна́ція (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ja 滞り (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · pt paralisia (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ja 澱み (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · id stagnasi (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · pl stagnacja (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · fi pysähtyminen (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · fi lamaannustila (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · mk стагнација (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ru стагна́ция (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · sq ngërçi ekonomik (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · it ristagno (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · mk стагнација (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · fr croupissure (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · cs ustrnutí (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ko 침체 (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · hy ստագնացիա (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · fi seisahtuneisuus (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ko 정체 (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · nn stagnasjon (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · mi patekotanga (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ja 不活発 (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ro stagnare economică (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · bg стагнация (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ja 沈滞 (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · sv stagnering (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · vec stagnasion (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · it stagnazione (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · kk тоқырау (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · cy llonyddwch (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · ka უმოქმედობა (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · fr stagnation (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · az durğunluq (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ca estancament (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · kk стагнация (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · sq amti (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ca estancació (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · fi ruususenuni (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · pl bezrybie (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · pt estagnação (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · pl marazm (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ja 不振 (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ja よどみ (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · ml സ്തംഭനാവസ്ഥ (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · pl martwica (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · fi stagnaatio (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · uk засті́й (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · de Stagnation (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · sv ekonomisk stagnation (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · it stagnamento (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · pt mesmice (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · az staqnasiya (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · pl zastój (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · be стагна́цыя (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · eo stagnado (state of lacking flow or motion, usually causing a lack of freshness or health; an instance of this) · tr stagnasyon (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · fi stagnaatio (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ota كساد (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · tr kış uykusu (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · ko 안주 (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · mk застој (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · cs stagnace (state of low or no growth in an economy; an instance of this) · hy ստագնացիա (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity) · de Stagnierung (state of lacking activity, change or progress, or excitement in an unhealthy manner; an instance of this — see also inactivity)