dormant

/ˈdɔːrmənt/

Say it: DOR-munt

1. adjective Temporarily inactive, suspended, or in a state of rest, but with the potential to become active again.
The seeds can remain dormant in the soil for decades before sprouting.
2. adjective Present but not currently expressed or developed; latent.
He had a dormant talent for music that he only discovered in his forties.
3. adjective In biology, in a state of reduced metabolic activity to conserve energy, such as during hibernation or aestivation.
Bears are dormant during the winter months to survive the cold and lack of food.
4. adjective In finance or law, not active or in use.
The bank charges a fee for any account that has been dormant for over a year.

📖 Seen in the wild

The volcano had been dormant for centuries before showing signs of activity.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ dormant in a sentence

The long-dormant volcano suddenly began to show signs of life.
After the merger, several key projects were left dormant.
Her creative abilities had lain dormant for years while she raised her family.
The virus can remain dormant in the body for a long time before causing symptoms.
He was a dormant partner in the firm, providing capital but not involved in daily operations.
The legislation remained dormant in committee, with little chance of being passed.
A sense of unease that had been dormant for years began to stir within him.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

inactive latent quiescent asleep inert fallow inoperative slumbering

inactive · a broader term; dormant specifically implies the ability to become active again.

latent · emphasizes something hidden or undeveloped, rather than just temporarily paused.

quiescent · suggests a peaceful, quiet state of inactivity.

asleep · a more literal and common synonym, often used metaphorically.

Opposites: active, operative, awake, lively, conscious

🌱 Where it comes from

Dormant comes to English from the Old French word 'dormant', which means 'sleeping'. This is the present participle of the verb 'dormir', to sleep, which itself traces back to the Latin 'dormire'. The word's core meaning has always been tied to this idea of sleep, a temporary state of rest from which one can awaken.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

lie dormantremain dormantdormant volcanodormant accountdormant perioddormant partner

The core idea of 'dormant' is temporary inactivity, like being asleep. It's useful because it implies that the subject has the potential to 'wake up' and become active again. This makes it a popular word in both scientific contexts (dormant seeds, dormant viruses) and metaphorical ones (dormant talents, dormant feelings). While similar to 'inactive', 'dormant' is more specific about the temporary nature of the state.

Word family: dormancy

💬 Quick answers

What does dormant mean?

Dormant describes something that is temporarily inactive or in a resting state but has the potential to become active in the future. Think of it as being asleep.

What is the difference between dormant and latent?

Dormant implies a temporary, sleep-like state of inactivity, like a hibernating bear. Latent suggests something is hidden or undeveloped but could emerge, like a latent talent or a latent disease.

What is a dormant volcano?

A dormant volcano is one that is not currently erupting but is expected to erupt again in the future. It is considered 'sleeping' between eruptions.

Can a person be dormant?

While you wouldn't typically describe a whole person as dormant, you can say their talents, ambitions, or feelings are dormant. It means these qualities are temporarily inactive or unexpressed.

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