passive

[pas-iv]

adjective

1. not reacting visibly to something that might be expected to produce manifestations of an emotion or feeling.

   Antonyms: active

2. not participating readily or actively; inactive.

   a passive member of a committee.

   Antonyms: active

3. not involving visible reaction or active participation.

   to play a passive role.

   Antonyms: active

4. inert or quiescent.

5. influenced, acted upon, or affected by some external force, cause, or agency; being the object of action rather than causing action (active ).

6. receiving or characterized by the reception of impressions or influences from external sources.

7. produced or caused by an external agency.

8. receiving, enduring, or submitting without resistance.

   a passive hypnotic subject.

   Synonyms: docile, submissive
   Antonyms: recalcitrant, resistant

9. Grammar.

   1. noting a voice in the inflection of the verb in some languages which is used to indicate that the subject undergoes the action of the verb. Latin portātur, “he, she, or it is carried,” is in the passive voice.

   2. noting or pertaining to a construction similar to this in meaning, as English He is carried (active ).

10. Chemistry.,  inactive, especially under conditions in which chemical activity is to be expected.

11. Metallurgy.,  (of a metal) treated so as to impart impassivity.

12. Medicine/Medical.,  of or relating to certain unhealthy but dormant conditions; inactive, as opposed to active or spontaneous.

13. Telecommunications.,  designed to relay signals without electronic devices.

    a passive communications satellite.

14. (of a solar heating system) accumulating and distributing solar heat without the aid of machinery.

noun

Grammar.

1. the passive voice.

2. a passive form or construction.

passive

/ ˈpæsɪv /

adjective

1. not active or not participating perceptibly in an activity, organization, etc

2. unresisting and receptive to external forces; submissive

3. not working or operating

4. affected or acted upon by an external object or force

5. grammar denoting a voice of verbs in sentences in which the grammatical subject is not the logical subject but rather the recipient of the action described by the verb, as was broken in the sentence The glass was broken by a boy Compare active

6. chem (of a substance, esp a metal) apparently chemically unreactive, usually as a result of the formation of a thin protective layer that prevents further reaction

7. electronics telecomm

   1. containing no source of power and therefore capable only of attenuating a signal

      a passive network

   2. not capable of amplifying a signal or controlling a function

      a passive communications satellite

8. finance (of a bond, share, debt, etc) yielding no interest

noun

1. grammar

   1. the passive voice

   2. a passive verb

Other Word Forms

• passively adverb
• quasi-passive adjective
• semipassive adjective
• semipassiveness noun
• unpassive adjective
• passivity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of passive¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin passīvus literally, “submissive,” equivalent to pass(us) (past participle of patī “to experience, undergo, submit”) + -īvus adjective suffix; -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of passive¹

C14: from Latin passīvus susceptible of suffering, from patī to undergo

Example Sentences

Some emergency management experts argue that the state has long played too passive a role in making sure local jurisdictions are prepared for the next disaster.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Think of it — it could happen — as an epidemic of passive aggression against a brazenly aggressive president.

Read more on Salon

What remains is a flattened, inaccurate history that centers white heterosexual Christian men as the architects of American greatness, relegating others to mere bystanders or occupying passive, supporting roles.

Read more on Salon

The Paris criminal court acquitted him of all other charges, including passive corruption and illegal campaign financing.

Read more on BBC

Anna says she told her cousin she couldn't afford it, but was then hit with passive aggressive messages.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• apathetic 
• indifferent 
• laid-back 
• nonviolent 
• quiet 
• static 
• unflappable 
• uninvolved