stagnation

noun

stag·​na·​tion stag-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce stagnation (audio)
: a stagnant state or condition : a state or condition marked by lack of flow, movement, or development
In short, the increasing contamination and stagnation of the segment of river had become a matter of concern.Ryan Holifield and Nick Schuelke
In 1664, when plague had struck Amsterdam again, with the usual stagnation of trade that followed its worst attacks, the sight of a shooting star was taken as axiomatic confirmation of divine displeasure.Simon Schama

Examples of stagnation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Ozzy Osbourne was kicked out of Black Sabbath in 1979 due to a combination of substance abuse, personal conflicts, and creative stagnation within the band. Amanda Castro hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025 Reeves, who is president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, argued that politicians have focused on addressing gender inequality while failing to address growing wage depreciation, which explains much of men’s stagnation and why the right has captured their support. Lia Russell july 30, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2025 For years, the city of 45,000 on the eastern fringes of Fort Worth has struggled to claw its way out of economic stagnation — largely ignored by developers while the rest of the Metroplex boomed. Chris Torres, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2025 Outdated recommendations suggest professional stagnation, especially when paired with generic banner images that match countless other profiles. Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for stagnation

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stagnation was in 1644

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Cite this Entry

“Stagnation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stagnation. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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