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
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
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share