1. Not active; having no power to move; that does not or can not
produce results; inert; as, matter is, of itself, inactive.
2. Not disposed to action or effort; not diligent or industrious; not
busy; idle; as, an inactive officer.
3. (Chem. & Opt.) Not active; inert; esp., not exhibiting any action or
activity on polarized light; 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.
Syn. -- Inert; dull; sluggish; idle; indolent; slothful; lazy. See
Inert.
In*ac"tive*ly, adv. In an inactive manner. Locke.