The difference between Dormant and Extinct

When used as adjectives, dormant means inactive, sleeping, asleep, suspended, whereas extinct means extinguished, no longer alight (of fire, candles etc.).


Dormant is also noun with the meaning: a crossbeam or joist.

Extinct is also verb with the meaning: to make extinct.

check bellow for the other definitions of Dormant and Extinct

  1. Dormant as an adjective:

    Inactive, sleeping, asleep, suspended.

    Examples:

    "Grass goes dormant during the winter, waiting for spring before it grows again."

    "The bank account was dormant; there had been no transactions in months."

    "This volcano is dormant but not extinct."

  2. Dormant as an adjective (heraldry):

    In a sleeping posture; distinguished from .

    Examples:

    "a lion dormant'"

  3. Dormant as an adjective (architecture):

    Leaning.

  1. Dormant as a noun (architecture):

    A crossbeam or joist.

  1. Extinct as an adjective (dated):

    Extinguished, no longer alight (of fire, candles etc.)

    Examples:

    "Poor Edward's cigarillo was already extinct."

  2. Extinct as an adjective:

    No longer used; obsolete, discontinued.

    Examples:

    "The title became extinct when the last baron died."

    "Luckily, such ideas about race are extinct in current sociological theory."

  3. Extinct as an adjective:

    No longer in existence; having died out.

    Examples:

    "The dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years."

  4. Extinct as an adjective (vulcanology):

    No longer actively erupting.

    Examples:

    "Most of the volcanos on this island are now extinct."

  1. Extinct as a verb (transitive):

    To make extinct; to extinguish or annihilate.