stagnation

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   A long period in which nothing grows, changes or improves.

   Grammar: Used without an article: economic stagnation.

   Patterns

   • stagnation in something
   • a period of stagnation

   The country has suffered a decade of economic stagnation.

   He felt stagnation at work, with no new challenges.

   Years of stagnation left the town with empty stores.

2. 2noununcountabletechnical

   The state of water or air not flowing and becoming stale or foul.

   Grammar: Literal use for liquids: the stagnation of the pond.

   Patterns

   • the stagnation of something

   Stagnation in the pond led to algae growth.

   Poor ventilation caused stagnation of the air in the cellar.

Common combinations

economic stagnation

Economic stagnation worried the government.

period of stagnation

The company went through a period of stagnation.

wage stagnation

Wage stagnation has made rent harder to pay.

avoid stagnation

Fresh ideas help avoid stagnation.

stagnation of ideas

The meeting revealed a stagnation of ideas.

Synonyms and how they differ

stasis

Stasis is a more technical or literary word for a state of no change, whereas stagnation implies it is harmful.

inactivity

Inactivity just means doing nothing, but stagnation suggests lack of growth that should be happening.

standstill

Standstill describes a stop in movement, often temporary, while stagnation is a long-lasting condition.

decline

Decline means getting worse, but stagnation means not moving either way.

Opposites

Word family

stagnate verb

to stop growing or developing

stagnant adjective

not flowing or growing

stagnating adjective

becoming inactive and stuck

stagnantly adverb

in a way that shows no movement

Commonly confused: stagnation or stagflation?

Practice

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