stagnation

noun

stag·​na·​tion stag-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce stagnation (audio)
Synonyms of stagnationnext
: 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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One is the typical Latin American outcome, which is decades of miserable grinding inflationary stagnation, arising from mediocre government policy. Nathan Lewis, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 But really, the broader dynamic of the relationship isn’t pulling one way or the other; just stagnation. Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 14 May 2026 An operating model allows for fundamental repositioning, whereas a licensing model would likely lock the brand into its current stagnation. Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 14 May 2026 For most people, Starmerism is incrementalism leading nowhere in particular—a program that is nowhere near adequate to confront Britain’s economic stagnation or its political splintering. Sam Knight, New Yorker, 14 May 2026 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 21 May. 2026.

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