Dormant means temporarily inactive or asleep, but still alive and capable of becoming active again. A dormant volcano hasn't erupted in a long time and seems peaceful, but it could erupt again someday. This is different from an extinct volcano, which will never erupt again.

In nature, many living things go dormant to survive difficult conditions. Bears become dormant during winter hibernation, living off stored body fat while their heartbeat and breathing slow way down. Seeds can lie dormant in the ground for months or even years, waiting for the right combination of warmth and moisture to sprout. Some desert plants go dormant during drought, looking dead and brown, then suddenly green up when rain finally arrives.

The word also describes talents, interests, or feelings that exist but aren't currently active. A student might have a dormant interest in astronomy that awakens after visiting a planetarium. A dormant skill is one you haven't used in a while but could practice again, like speaking a language you learned as a young child.

Notice that dormant suggests potential: something dormant isn't gone, just waiting. When you describe something as dormant, you're saying it could wake up, grow, or return to activity when conditions are right.