It's not accurate to say volcanoes have 3 distinct "stages" in the way you might think of stages in a life cycle. Volcanoes are more dynamic and can experience various phases or periods of activity throughout their lifespan. Here's a more accurate way to understand volcano activity:

1. Active: A volcano is considered active if it has erupted in recent history (usually within the last 10,000 years) or shows signs of unrest like gas emissions, ground deformation, or increased heat flow.

2. Dormant: A volcano is considered dormant if it hasn't erupted recently but still has the potential to erupt in the future. These volcanoes might show signs of occasional activity, but they are not currently erupting.

3. Extinct: A volcano is considered extinct if it's unlikely to erupt again. This is often due to the underlying magma source being depleted or no longer active. However, it's difficult to definitively say a volcano is extinct, as some considered extinct have surprised scientists by erupting after long periods of inactivity.

Important Note: These classifications are not absolute and can be difficult to define. A dormant volcano could become active again, and an extinct volcano might have a resurgence of activity under specific geological conditions.