inactivate

verb

in·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˌ)i-ˈnak-tə-ˌvāt 

inactivated; inactivating; inactivates

transitive verb

: to make inactive

chemicals to inactivate viruses

inactivation

(ˌ)i-ˌnak-tə-ˈvā-shən 

noun

Examples of inactivate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Prior studies have also shown that common pasteurization methods inactivate the virus. —Brenda Goodman, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025

That bond must be broken again by one of the other reactions, or the enzyme becomes inactivated. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 14 Feb. 2025

Several studies have shown that commercial pasteurization — using heat to treat milk — inactivates the virus, making milk that’s safe for consumption. —Doha Madani, NBC News, 9 Feb. 2025

Less heat is needed to inactivate microbes as the pH is reduced. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for inactivate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

inactivate

verb

in·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˈ)in-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt 

: to make inactive

inactivation

(ˌ)in-ˌak-tə-ˈvā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

inactivate

transitive verb

in·​ac·​ti·​vate (ˈ)in-ˈak-tə-ˌvāt 

inactivated; inactivating

: to make inactive: as

a

: to destroy certain biological activities of

inactivate the complement of normal serum by heat

b

: to cause (as an infectious agent) to lose disease-producing capacity

inactivate bacteria

inactivation

(ˌ)in-ˌak-tə-ˈvā-shən 

noun

inactivator

-ˌvāt-ər 

noun