adj
stagnant
STAG-nuhnt
adj
1
Not flowing or moving, and therefore often stale or unhealthy — usually said of water.
"Mosquitoes bred in the stagnant pond behind the house."
2
Showing no growth, change, or progress.
"Wages have remained stagnant for years despite rising prices."
How to Use Stagnant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot moving or not improving — used for both still water and stalled progress.
Common pairings
stagnant water
stagnant economy
stagnant wages
Word Forms
more stagnant comparative, most stagnant superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “stagnant”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Mosquitoes bred in the _____ pond behind the house.
Etymology
From Latin stagnans, "forming standing water," from stagnum, a pool.