Standard Lemma guide

deactivation

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˌdiːæktɪˈveɪʃən/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪʃən

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act of deactivating something, such as a bomb or alarm.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the act of deactivating or making ineffective (as a bomb)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: defusing

Antonyms: activation

Broader terms: termination, ending, conclusion

3

noun

Meaning 3

breaking up a military unit (by transfers or discharges)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: inactivation

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: dismissal, dismission, discharge, firing, liberation, release, sack, sacking

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *de Proto-Indo-European *-h1 Proto-Indo-European *déh1 Proto-Italic *dē Latin dē Latin dē-der. English de- Proto-Indo-European *h2eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h2éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus ▲ Ancient Greek ἐνεργητῐκός (energētĭkós)sl. Latin āctīvusbor. Old French actifbor. Middle English actyf English active Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation ▲ English active Proto-Indo-European *-h2 Proto-Indo-European *-éh2 Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Indo-European *-eh2tos Proto-Italic *-ātos Latin -ātuslbor. English -ate English activate ▲ English -ation English -ion English activation English deactivation From de- + activation.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: desactivació — the act of deactivating something, such as a bomb or alarm
  • French: désactivation — the act of deactivating something, such as a bomb or alarm
  • Greek: απενεργοποίηση (apenergopoíisi) — the act of deactivating something, such as a bomb or alarm
  • Italian: disattivazione — the act of deactivating something, such as a bomb or alarm
  • Polish: dezaktywacja — the act of deactivating something, such as a bomb or alarm
  • Portuguese: desativação — the act of deactivating something, such as a bomb or alarm
  • Russian: дезактива́ция (dezaktivácija) — the act of deactivating something, such as a bomb or alarm
  • Russian: деактива́ция (deaktivácija) — the act of deactivating something, such as a bomb or alarm
  • Russian: отключе́ние (otključénije) — the act of deactivating something, such as a bomb or alarm
  • Spanish: desactivación — the act of deactivating something, such as a bomb or alarm
  • Ukrainian: деактива́ція (deaktyvácija) — the act of deactivating something, such as a bomb or alarm
  • Ukrainian: відклю́чення (vidkljúčennja) — the act of deactivating something, such as a bomb or alarm