passive

1 of 2

adjective

pas·​sive ˈpa-siv How to pronounce passive (audio)
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
: of, relating to, or characterized by a state of chemical inactivity
especially : resistant to corrosion
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
passively adverb
passiveness noun

passive

2 of 2

noun

pas·​sive ˈpa-siv How to pronounce passive (audio)
1
: a verb form whose grammatical subject is subjected to or affected by the action represented by that verb : a passive verb form
2
: the passive voice of a language
Choose the Right Synonym for passive

inactive, idle, inert, passive, supine mean not engaged in work or activity.

inactive applies to anyone or anything not in action or in operation or at work.

on inactive status as an astronaut
inactive accounts

idle applies to persons that are not busy or occupied or to their powers or their implements.

workers were idle in the fields

inert as applied to things implies powerlessness to move or to affect other things; as applied to persons it suggests an inherent or habitual indisposition to activity.

inert ingredients in drugs
an inert citizenry

passive implies immobility or lack of normally expected response to an external force or influence and often suggests deliberate submissiveness or self-control.

passive resistance

supine applies only to persons and commonly implies abjectness or indolence.

a supine willingness to play the fool

Examples of passive in a Sentence

Adjective The destructive myth/legend of Herbert Hoover strikes again. The nation's 31st President has chronically been portrayed as passive in the face of the Great Depression and his successor, Franklin Roosevelt, as the exact opposite—an activist who, if he didn't actually cure the Depression, at least profoundly improved the nation's battered psychology. Steve Forbes, Forbes, 30 June 2008
He believes that the time has come for Europeans to discard their passive role with respect to the United States and that Americans must be made to understand why. Nicholas Fraser, Harper's, May 2006
Throughout the streets of Moscow last Wednesday, word of the ignominious flight of the Soviet Union's would-be junta brought a sense not of jubilation, but of quiet relief that a bloody civil war had been averted, and of satisfaction that the myth of the passive, obedient Russian people might be laid to rest. Fred Hiatt, Washington Post, 26 Aug.-1 Sept. 1991
“Hits” in “She hits the ball” is active, while “hit” in “The ball was hit” is passive. In “He was hit by the ball,” “hit” is a passive verb.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Introduction: In today’s digital era, many are eager to explore avenues for earning passive income from the comfort of their homes. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 When it’s not engaged in any specific task, the brain enters into what’s known as the default network mode, or a period of passive rest, which is responsible for unconscious processing. Georgia Day, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2024 Registration for the next course, about how to earn passive income, opens today and launches next week. Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 Keen often took a passive aggressive approach with his staff, according to six former employees. William Turton, WIRED, 5 Mar. 2024 Unlike active job seekers who apply en masse, passive candidates aren't currently looking for a job but may be open to the right opportunity. Ben Keighley, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 And some passive behaviors, like consuming educational videos, are beneficial. Annie Margaret, The Conversation, 15 Feb. 2024 Helps passive investors grow wealth through real estate. Ellie Perlman, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Which of these friendships are close, active friendships versus more superficial, passive friendships? Sahaj Kaur Kohli, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024
Noun
As with the the Coupe, the T.33 Spider uses passive rather than active dampers and doesn't even have a rear anti-roll bar. Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 5 Apr. 2023 The latter passive-aggressively blames her for the Gilead Visitor's Center closure. Matt Cabral, EW.com, 5 Oct. 2022 Smart companies recognize that in recent years, their customers have shifted from a passive to an active role. Ildeme Mahinay Koch, Forbes, 13 May 2022 The redistricting conflict comes two months after Cortez abandoned his fellow Democrats during a quorum break in Washington, D.C., to block the passive of a restrictive GOP election bill. Gilbert Garcia, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Oct. 2021 Janet Randall, a psycholinguist at Northeastern University, has found that rendering these instructions in plain English, stripping out passives and legalese especially, makes them much easier to interpret. The Economist, 14 Apr. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'passive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English, from Latin passivus, from passus, past participle of pati

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of passive was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near passive

Cite this Entry

“Passive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/passive. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

passive

1 of 2 adjective
pas·​sive ˈpas-iv How to pronounce passive (audio)
1
a
: not active but acted upon
passive spectators
b
: indicating that the person or thing represented by the subject is acted on by the verb
"was hit" in "he was hit by the ball" is passive
2
a
: not operating
b
: of, relating to, or making use of the sun's heat usually without the aid of mechanical devices
3
: offering no resistance
passively adverb
passiveness noun
passivity noun

passive

2 of 2 noun
1
: a passive verb form
2
: the passive voice

Medical Definition

passive

adjective
pas·​sive ˈpas-iv How to pronounce passive (audio)
1
a(1)
: lethargic or lacking in energy or will
(2)
: tending not to take an active or dominant part
a passive spouse
b
: induced by an outside agency
passive exercise of a paralyzed leg
2
a
: of, relating to, or characterized by a state of chemical inactivity
b
: not involving expenditure of chemical energy
passive transport across a plasma membrane
3
: producing passive immunity
passive immunotherapy
passively adverb
passiveness noun

Legal Definition

passive

adjective
pas·​sive ˈpa-siv How to pronounce passive (audio)
: not involving, deriving from, or requiring effort or active participation
imposed a passive duty not to interfere
specifically : of, relating to, or being business activity in which the investor does not have immediate control over the income-producing activity
passive income
passive losses

Note: Under the Internal Revenue Code, there are two sources of passive income: rental activity and a business in which the taxpayer does not materially participate.

passively adverb
passiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on passive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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