inactivate
verb
in·ac·ti·vate
(ˌ)i-ˈnak-tə-ˌvāt 
inactivated; inactivating; inactivates
: to make inactive
chemicals to inactivate viruses
Examples of inactivate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Pasteurization will also inactivate the H5N1 bird flu virus, which is why the CDC considers pasteurized milk safe to drink despite the recent outbreak.
—
Amy Feldman, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Research so far has shown that virus particles end up in the milk of infected cows but that pasteurization will inactivate the virus.
—Kerry E. Kaylegian, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2024
The 1st five years When Space Force was established in 2019, the existing U.S. Air Force Space Command was inactivated and all of its space units were assigned to Space Force.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 20 Dec. 2024
This treatment has been shown to inactivate 106 cfu/g of E. coli O157:H7, Listeria spp., Salmonella spp., or Staphylococcus spp.
—Aron Solomon, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
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Amy Feldman, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
Research so far has shown that virus particles end up in the milk of infected cows but that pasteurization will inactivate the virus.
—Kerry E. Kaylegian, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2024
The 1st five years When Space Force was established in 2019, the existing U.S. Air Force Space Command was inactivated and all of its space units were assigned to Space Force.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 20 Dec. 2024
This treatment has been shown to inactivate 106 cfu/g of E. coli O157:H7, Listeria spp., Salmonella spp., or Staphylococcus spp.
—Aron Solomon, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for inactivate
Dictionary Entries Near inactivate
Cite this Entry
“Inactivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inactivate. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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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
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