dormancy

noun

dor·​man·​cy ˈdȯr-mən(t)-sē 

: the quality or state of being dormant

Synonyms

• abeyance
• cold storage
• deep freeze
• doldrums
• holding pattern
• latency
• moratorium
• quiescence
• suspended animation
• suspense
• suspension

Examples of dormancy in a Sentence

some volcanoes have eruptive cycles marked by long stretches of dormancy

a fighting force that could be roused instantly from dormancy to action

Recent Examples on the Web

To coax her date seeds out of dormancy, Dr. Sallon enlisted Elaine Solowey, a desert plant expert at the Areva Institute for Environmental Studies, based at Ketura, a kibbutz in the southern Negev. —Franz Lidz, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2024

On May 2, 2008, the Chaitén volcano in Chile awoke with unexpected fury after more than 9,000 years of dormancy. —Ashley Balzer Vigil, Ars Technica, 21 Dec. 2024

The team believes that the most likely scenario at play here is that black holes go through short bursts of ultra-fast growth and then long periods of dormancy. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2024

The most plausible answer, as proposed by the new study, is that black holes can experience bursts of hyperactive growth, followed by long periods of dormancy. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

dormancy

noun

dor·​man·​cy ˈdȯr-mən-sē 

: the quality or state of being dormant