The difference between Dormant and Inactive
When used as adjectives, dormant means inactive, sleeping, asleep, suspended, whereas inactive means not active, temporarily or permanently.
Dormant is also noun with the meaning: a crossbeam or joist.
check bellow for the other definitions of Dormant and Inactive
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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."
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Dormant as an adjective (heraldry):
In a sleeping posture; distinguished from .
Examples:
"a lion dormant'"
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Dormant as an adjective (architecture):
Leaning.
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Dormant as a noun (architecture):
A crossbeam or joist.
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Inactive as an adjective:
Not active, temporarily or permanently.
Examples:
"The volcano is inactive, but is only dormant."
"An inactive boy, he rarely exercised and preferred to stay indoors."
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Inactive as an adjective:
Not functioning or operating; broken down
Examples:
"The photocopier is inactive pending repair."
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Inactive as an adjective:
Retired from duty or service.
Examples:
"Admiral Jones is now on the inactive list."
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Inactive as an adjective (chemistry):
Relatively inert.
Examples:
"Aluminium is inactive towards water."
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Inactive as an adjective (physics):
Showing no optical activity in polarized light.
Examples:
"Synthetic glycine is optically inactive as it contains equal amounts of the d- and l- form."