stagnation
stag-NAY-shun
/stæɡˈneɪʃn/
A state of standing still, lack of activity, growth, or development.
In economics, describes extended periods of zero or minimal growth in real wages, GDP, or productivity.
The story behind the word. Originally described body of water that stopped moving, gathered scum, and lost oxygen. By the 19th century, economists borrowed the image of stagnant water to describe economies that ceased moving forward.
Word relationships
- inertia: Inertia implies a physical resistance to movement, while stagnation implies lack of fresh input or progress.
- standstill: Standstill implies a sudden halt, whereas stagnation is a sluggish, lingering lack of motion.
- expansion: Active economic or physical growth and broad development.
- dynamism: Vigorous activity and progressive change.
Commonly confused with
- stagflation: Stagnation is economic standing still; stagflation is the specific combination of economic stagnation AND high inflation.
Word family
- stagnate (verb): To cease developing, growing, or flowing.
- stagnant (adjective): Showing no activity, motion, or growth.
Collocations
- wage stagnation
- economic stagnation
- secular stagnation
- market stagnation
Example sentences
- "Decades of wage stagnation left middle-class households struggling to keep pace with housing costs." Macroeconomic Trends
- "Without investment in research and development, the manufacturing sector faced persistent technological stagnation." Industrial Growth
Memory hook
A STAGNANT pond STAGnates; an economy with STAGNATION has trapped, standing water. Stagnation = Standing like stagnant water.
When not to use
Do not use to describe brief, temporary pauses that last only days or weeks.
Fun facts
- The term 'secular stagnation' was coined by Alvin Hansen in 1938 to describe long-term economic slowdowns independent of business cycles.
Related words
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