Skip to content

inactif

inactive, idle

adjective ee-nahk-TEEF Rare

Also means

unemployed

Usage Note

Inactif can describe a person who is not working (population inactive), a volcano that is not erupting, or a substance that has no effect. Its feminine form is inactive. In economics, les inactifs (noun) refers to people outside the labour force, distinct from the unemployed (les chômeurs).

Examples

"Le volcan est resté inactif pendant des siècles."

Natural Translation

The volcano remained inactive for centuries.

Free starter pack

Building your French vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Explore French by topic