deactivation
1
6.2
- noun
- /ˌdiːækˈtɪveɪʃən/
- Formal
:
desactivación
- After months of preparation, the deactivation of the military unit was completed without incident.
Examples
-
We're taking you to the precinct for immediate deactivation.
-
All five backpack devices were safely accounted for and have been returned to the Center for Advanced Deactivation at Los Alamos.
-
The army announced the deactivation of the 12th Infantry Regiment, transferring its members to other units.
-
The process of deactivation required careful planning to ensure all personnel were accounted for and reassigned.
Synonyms
20
6.8
The official ending of a group like a partnership or parliament
2
7.7
The process of sending soldiers home and closing military units after a war
1
7.4
The official ending of a military unit when its members move to other units or leave the service
1
7.5
Breaking up an organized group like a band or army
Antonyms
How Complete
- Formal
20
6.8
- Formal
1
6.2
- Specialized
18
6.3
451
3.2
18
3.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
deactivation = deactivate (semi-transparent) = de + activate + ion
Morphologically clear ('de-' + 'activate' + '-ion'), but in this military sense the meaning 'disband a unit' is a specialized extension of 'make inactive', which may not be fully predictable to learners.
Etymology
Deactivation comes from de- meaning 'remove' and activate from active meaning 'working' or 'in use'. So, when a military unit is deactivated it is taken out of active service, meaning it is broken up or its people are moved elsewhere.