deactivate

UK/ˌdiːˈæktɪveɪt/

verbB1+Common in everyday speech and writing · #7,800 of 15,258neutral

Other forms: deactivated, deactivating, deactivates

To deactivate is to switch a device or account out of operation. Deactivate the alarm, deactivate an account, temporarily deactivated.

The point is that it can be undone, which is what separates deactivating an account from deleting one: the data usually stays and comes back when you return. On a bomb the correct word is defuse, not deactivate.

Definitions of deactivate

1verbdeactivateTo switch a device, alarm or account out of operation, usually in a way that can be reversed later.B1+
“Remember to deactivate the burglar alarm before you open the front door.”

deactivate is a switching off.

Where it comes from

From de- + activate.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

deactivate in the wild

GM's Active Fuel Management technology used a solenoid to deactivate the lifters on selected cylinders of a pushrod V-layout engine.
Active Fuel Management
The three must find a way to deactivate the collars and free the other heroes being held prisoner.
Ratchet: Deadlocked
Client programs not using this extension can deactivate it before connecting with the server, or can simply work normally as the extension simulates the core protocol by default.
X keyboard extension
The North American Numbering Plan assigned *66 to activate continuous redial and *86 to deactivate it.
Continuous redial
Also, Holt, Amy and Rosa participate in a bomb deactivate exercise.
Terry Kitties

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

Related words

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