Active vs. Inactive: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
'Active' refers to being engaged in action or participation, while 'inactive' denotes a state of not being active, involved, or in use.
Key Differences
Active involves engagement in activities or operations, indicating movement or participation. Inactive signifies a lack of action or movement, often implying dormancy or disuse.
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In an Active state, there is usually observable action, energy, or involvement. Being Inactive, on the other hand, implies a state of rest, idleness, or non-participation.
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Active can also refer to something functioning or operative, such as active machinery or software. Inactive, in contrast, describes something that is not currently functioning or is turned off.
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In terms of lifestyle, being Active implies engaging in physical activities or exercise. An Inactive lifestyle, however, is characterized by a lack of physical activity and can lead to health issues.
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In a professional or organizational context, Active may refer to ongoing involvement or current employment. Inactive could mean a period of non-engagement, such as a dormant account or a retired employee.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Engaged in action or participation
Not active, involved, or in use
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State
Involves action, movement, or operation
Involves rest, idleness, or non-operation
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Professional Context
Ongoing involvement or employment
Non-engagement or dormancy
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Active and Inactive Definitions
Active
Active means engaging in physical or mental activities.
She remains active by jogging every morning.
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Inactive
Inactive means not engaging in physical or mental activities.
The machine has been inactive since the factory closed.
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Active
Active refers to something functioning or in operation.
The factory's machinery is active 24/7.
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Inactive
Inactive is used to describe a state of stagnation or no change.
The volcano has been inactive for centuries.
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Active
Active can describe ongoing participation in an event or organization.
He is an active member of the community board.
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Inactive
Not active or tending to be active
Inactive students at risk for gaining weight.
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Active
Active is used to describe a state of constant motion or change.
The stock market is highly active today.
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Inactive
Not being in continuous use or operation
An inactive brokerage account.
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Active
Marked by energetic activity; busy
Active stock and bond markets.
Spent an active day sightseeing.
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Inactive
(Chemistry) Not readily participating in chemical reactions; inert.
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Active
Involving or requiring physical exertion and energy
An active workout at the gym.
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Inactive
(Medicine) Marked by the absence or lessening of disease activity.
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Active
Being in a state of action; not quiescent
Active hostilities along the border.
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Inactive
Not active, temporarily or permanently.
The volcano is inactive, but is only dormant.
Inactive user accounts may be deleted after 90 days.
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Active
Marked by or involving direct participation
Took an active interest in politics.
Played an active role on the committee.
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Inactive
Not functioning or operating; broken down
The photocopier is inactive pending repair.
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Active
Openly acknowledged or expressed
An active dislike of the new neighbors.
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Inactive
Retired from duty or service.
Admiral Jones is now on the inactive list.
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Active
Indicating that the grammatical subject of a verb is performing or causing the action expressed. Used of a verb form or voice.
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Inactive
(physics) Showing no optical activity in polarized light.
Synthetic glycine is optically inactive as it contains equal amounts of the d- and l- form.
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Active
Expressing action rather than a state of being. Used of verbs such as run, speak, and move.
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Active
Of or relating to the management of an investment portfolio by continually making investment decisions based on new information as opposed to maintaining a predetermined strategy or reproducing the returns of a market or index.
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Inactive
Not active; having no power to move; that does not or can not produce results; inert; as, matter is, of itself, inactive.
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Inactive
Not disposed to action or effort; not diligent or industrious; not busy; idle; as, an inactive officer.
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Active
Capable of converting or amplifying voltages or currents, as a diode or transistor.
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Inactive
Not exhibiting any action or activity on polarized light; optically inactive; optically neutral; - said of isomeric forms of certain substances, in distinction from other forms which are optically active; as, racemic acid is an inactive tartaric acid.
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Inactive
Lacking biological or biochemical activity; not causing a specific biological or biochemical effect; - said of substances such as enzymes which have lost their catalytic power, or of small molecules which are tested for some type of biological activity and found to lack that activity; as, after boiling for ten minutes, the enzyme was totally inactive; the methyl analog was inactive as an antibiotic.
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Inactive
Not participating in a chemical reaction;
Desired amounts of inactive chlorine
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Active
Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting;—opposed to passive, that receives.
Certain active principles
The active powers of the mind
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Active
Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble.
An active child or animal
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Active
In action; actually proceeding; working; in force
Active laws
Active hostilities
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Inactive
Lacking in energy or will;
Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself
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Active
Emitting hot materials, such as lava, smoke, or steam, or producing tremors.
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Inactive
Lacking activity; lying idle or unused;
An inactive mine
Inactive accounts
Inactive machinery
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Active
Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic; diligent; busy
An active man of business
Active mind
Active zeal
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Inactive
Not engaged in full-time work;
Inactive reserve
An inactive member of the department
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Active
Requiring or implying action or exertion
Active employment or service
Active scenes
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Inactive
Not active physically or mentally;
Illness forced him to live an inactive life
Dreamy and inactive by nature
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Active
Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative
An active rather than a speculative statesman
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Active
Implying or producing rapid action.
An active disease
An active remedy
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Inactive
Inactive refers to something not functioning or turned off.
The software remains inactive until the user activates it.
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Active
Applied to a form of the verb; — opposed to passive. See active voice.
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Inactive
Inactive can describe a lack of participation in events or organizations.
She's been an inactive member of the club for years.
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Active
Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts upon or affects something else; transitive.
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Inactive
Inactive in technology means not currently in use or dormant.
The inactive accounts are automatically deleted after a year.
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Active
Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct from mere existence or state.
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Active
(gay sexual slang) of a homosexual man enjoying a role in anal sex in which he penetrates, rather than being penetrated by his partner.
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Active
(electronics) Any component that is not passive. See Passivity (engineering).
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Active
Having the power or quality of acting; causing change; communicating action or motion; acting; - opposed to passive, that receives; as, certain active principles; the powers of the mind.
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Active
Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble; as, an active child or animal.
Active and nervous was his gait.
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Active
In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; - opposed to quiescent, dormant, or extinct; as, active laws; active hostilities; an active volcano.
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Active
Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic; diligent; busy; - opposed to dull, sluggish, indolent, or inert; as, an active man of business; active mind; active zeal.
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Active
Requiring or implying action or exertion; - opposed to sedentary or to tranquil; as, active employment or service; active scenes.
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Active
Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative; - opposed to speculative or theoretical; as, an active rather than a speculative statesman.
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Active
Implying or producing rapid action; as, an active disease; an active remedy.
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Active
Applied to a form of the verb; - opposed to passive. See Active voice, under Voice.
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Active
The voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is performing the action or causing the happening denoted by the verb;
`The boy threw the ball' uses the active voice
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Active
Engaged in or ready for military or naval operations;
On active duty
The platoon is combat-ready
Review the fighting forces
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Active
Disposed to take action or effectuate change;
A director who takes an active interest in corporate operations
An active antagonism
He was active in drawing attention to their grievances
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Active
Taking part in an activity;
An active member of the club
He was politically active
The participating organizations
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Active
Characterized by energetic activity;
An active toddler
Active as a gazelle
An active man is a man of action
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Active
Full of activity or engaged in continuous activity;
An active seaport
An active bond market
An active account
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Active
In operation;
Keep hope alive
The tradition was still alive
An active tradition
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Active
Of the sun; characterized by a high level activity in sunspots and flares and radio emissions
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Active
Expressing that the subject of the sentence has the semantic function of actor:
Hemingway favors active constructions
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Active
Expressing action rather than a state of being; used of verbs (e.g. `to run') and participial adjectives (e.g. `running' in `running water')
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Active
(of e.g. volcanos) erupting or liable to erupt;
Active volcanos
An extinct volcano
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Active
Engaged in full-time work;
Active duty
Though past retirement age he is still active in his profession
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Active
Characterized by energetic bodily activity;
Tennis is an active sport
A very physical dance performance
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Active
Active in software or technology means currently in use or running.
The antivirus program is active on my computer.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
What are the health risks of being inactive?
Increased risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
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How can someone transition from inactive to active?
By gradually incorporating physical activities into their routine.
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Can a business be active?
Yes, when it is operational and conducting transactions.
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What does inactive mean in banking?
An account with no transactions over a period.
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What does it mean to be active?
It means being engaged in action, movement, or participation.
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What's an active role in a project?
Directly participating and contributing to the project's progress.
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Is it possible for software to be inactive?
Yes, when it's not currently running or in use.
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How do active and inactive lifestyles affect mental health?
Active lifestyles can improve mental health, while inactive ones may worsen it.
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What is an inactive lifestyle?
A lifestyle with little or no physical activity.
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Can a person be active in one area and inactive in another?
Yes, such as being active professionally but inactive physically.
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Can a social media account be inactive?
Yes, if it hasn't been used or accessed for a long time.
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How can an active lifestyle benefit children?
By promoting physical health, social skills, and cognitive development.
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What makes an active community member?
Regular participation and contribution to community activities.
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What does an inactive volcano mean?
A volcano that is not currently erupting and shows no signs of imminent eruption.
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Why would a phone line be inactive?
Due to disconnection or non-payment of bills.
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What is an active voice in writing?
A sentence structure where the subject performs the action.
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What does inactive employment status mean?
Not currently working or on a break from work.
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What are active ingredients in a product?
Components that are responsible for the product's primary effects.
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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