Inactive vs. Unactive — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 7, 2023
The correct spelling is "Inactive" while "Unactive" is incorrect. "Inactive" means not active or not engaged in action.
Which is correct: Inactive or Unactive
How to spell Inactive?
Inactive
Correct Spelling
Unactive
Incorrect Spelling
Difference Between Inactive and Unactive
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"In-" is a common prefix meaning "not", as in "inaccurate".
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The phrase "In the active phase" can remind you that "Inactive" starts with "In".
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Notice that software and technology usually use "Inactive" to describe non-active features.
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"Un-" is often used with adjectives, like "unhappy", but "active" traditionally pairs with "in-".
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Think of similar words like "inaccurate" or "inadequate" to remember the right prefix.
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Comparison Chart
Meaning
Not engaged in action or movement
Attempt to convey a similar meaning to inactive but is nonstandard
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Acceptance
Found in reputable dictionaries
Lacks recognition in reputable dictionaries
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Application
Used in various contexts to signify non-action
Does not have recognized applications due to nonstandard status
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Correctness
Correct and appropriate term to use
Considered incorrect and inappropriate to use
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Definitions
Inactive
Inactive refers to something not in use or operation.
The machinery has been inactive for years.
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Inactive
Inactive describes someone not participating in an activity.
After the injury, he became an inactive member of the team.
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Inactive
Inactive pertains to not engaging in physical movement.
He's been inactive and needs to exercise more.
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Inactive
Inactive denotes something not currently producing effects or results.
The volcano is inactive but monitored closely.
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Inactive
Inactive can indicate a lack of chemical reactivity.
Noble gases are largely inactive.
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Inactive
Inactive is a TRPV channel in invertebrates. Inactive mutant flies show locomotor and hearing deficits.
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Inactive
Not engaging in or involving any or much physical activity
An inactive lifestyle
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Inactive
Not active or tending to be active
Inactive students at risk for gaining weight.
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Inactive
Not being in continuous use or operation
An inactive brokerage account.
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Inactive
(Chemistry) Not readily participating in chemical reactions; inert.
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Inactive
(Medicine) Marked by the absence or lessening of disease activity.
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Inactive
Not active, temporarily or permanently.
The volcano is inactive, but is only dormant.
Inactive user accounts may be deleted after 90 days.
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Inactive
Not functioning or operating; broken down
The photocopier is inactive pending repair.
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Inactive
Retired from duty or service.
Admiral Jones is now on the inactive list.
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Inactive
(physics) Showing no optical activity in polarized light.
Synthetic glycine is optically inactive as it contains equal amounts of the d- and l- form.
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Inactive
Not active; having no power to move; that does not or can not produce results; inert; as, matter is, of itself, inactive.
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Inactive
Not disposed to action or effort; not diligent or industrious; not busy; idle; as, an inactive officer.
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Inactive
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.
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Inactive
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.
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Inactive
Not participating in a chemical reaction;
Desired amounts of inactive chlorine
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Inactive
Lacking in energy or will;
Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself
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Inactive
Lacking activity; lying idle or unused;
An inactive mine
Inactive accounts
Inactive machinery
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Inactive
Not engaged in full-time work;
Inactive reserve
An inactive member of the department
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Inactive
Not active physically or mentally;
Illness forced him to live an inactive life
Dreamy and inactive by nature
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FAQs
What is the verb form of Inactive?
The verb form related to "Inactive" is "inactivate."
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Which vowel is used before Inactive?
The vowel "i" is used before "Inactive."
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What is the singular form of Inactive?
"Inactive" is an adjective; it does not have a singular or plural form.
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Which article is used with Inactive?
Typically, the articles "an" or "the" can be used before "Inactive" depending on the context.
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What is the plural form of Inactive?
"Inactive" does not have a plural form.
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Which conjunction is used with Inactive?
Any conjunction can be used with "Inactive" based on the sentence structure.
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Why is it called Inactive?
It's called "Inactive" because it describes something that is not active or not currently in use.
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Is Inactive a negative or positive word?
"Inactive" is neutral but can have negative connotations in contexts where activity is expected or valued.
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Which preposition is used with Inactive?
The preposition used with "Inactive" varies by context. Examples include "inactive for" or "inactive in."
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What is another term for Inactive?
Another term for "Inactive" could be "dormant."
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Is the Inactive term a metaphor?
By itself, "Inactive" is not a metaphor, but it can be used metaphorically.
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Is Inactive a vowel or consonant?
"Inactive" is a word, not a single letter. It contains both vowels and consonants.
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What is a stressed syllable in Inactive?
The second syllable "ac" is stressed in "Inactive."
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How is Inactive used in a sentence?
The software feature remained inactive until the user enabled it.
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How many syllables are in Inactive?
There are three syllables in "Inactive."
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Is the word “Inactive” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Inactive" is an adjective, not an object.
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Which determiner is used with Inactive?
Determiners like "an," "the," or "some" can be used with "Inactive."
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Author Spotlight
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.
