Main Entry: ¹pas·sive

Pronunciation: \ˈpa-siv\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin passivus, from passus, past participle

Date: 14th century

1 a (1) : acted upon by an external agency (2) : receptive to outside impressions or influences b (1) : asserting that the grammatical subject of a verb is subjected to or affected by the action represented by that verb <the passive voice> (2) : containing or yielding a passive verb form c (1) : lacking in energy or will : lethargic (2) : tending not to take an active or dominant part d : induced by an outside agency <passive exercise of a paralyzed leg>
2 a : not active or operating : inert b : of, relating to, or making direct use of the sun's heat usually without the intervention of mechanical devices <a passive solar house> c : latent d (1) : of, relating to, or characterized by a state of chemical inactivity; especially : resistant to corrosion (2) : not involving expenditure of chemical energy <passive transport across a cell membrane> e of an electronic element : exhibiting no gain or control f : relating to the detection of an object through its emission of energy or sound <passive sonar>
3 a : receiving or enduring without resistance : submissive b : existing or occurring without being active, open, or direct <passive support>
4 : of, relating to, or being business activity in which the investor does not actively participate in the generation of income

synonyms see inactive

— pas·sive·ly adverb

— pas·sive·ness noun

— pas·siv·i·ty \pa-ˈsi-və-tē\ noun