Bezczynne

Bezczynne is a Polish adjective meaning idle, inactive, or lacking purposeful activity. It describes persons, actions, or situations that do not involve active engagement. In everyday speech it can refer to people who are not working or to objects that do not perform a function. It is often contrasted with aktywny or czynny, which denote activity or usefulness.

Etymology and forms: The word is built from the prefix bez- “without” and czynny “active.” It follows standard Polish adjective declension, with forms such as bezczynny (masc. sing.), bezczynna (fem. sing.), and bezczynne (neut. sing. or plural). The noun corresponding to the concept is bezczynność, meaning inactivity or idleness. Common collocations include bezczynne ręce (idle hands) and stan bezczynny (an idle state).

Usage and nuance: Bezczynne describes lack of action rather than a moral judgment; however, it can carry a negative tone when applied to people or institutions. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, from descriptive prose to administrative language. Antonyms include aktywny, czynny, ruchliwy, and similar terms expressing activity or productivity.