holding pattern vs inactivity

holding pattern and inactivity both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
holding pattern	Yes	No	No	No
inactivity	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, inactivity is a hypernym of holding pattern; that is, inactivity is a word with a broader meaning than holding pattern:

Other hypernyms of holding pattern include inaction, inactiveness.

holding pattern (noun)	inactivity (noun)
the flight path (usually circular) maintained by an aircraft that is awaiting permission to land	being inactive; being less active
a state of inaction with no progress and no change	a disposition to remain inactive or inert
	the state of being inactive