From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Passive is the opposite of active. It has several specific meanings:

• Passive voice of a verb
• Passivation is the formation of a non-reactive surface film that inhibits further corrosion of a metal
• Passive language, a kind of metalanguage
• Passive components in electronics
• Passive mode in File Transfer Protocol
• Passive house, a standard for energy efficient buildings
• Emotional passivity is a form of submission to domination in relationship, and is not necessarily sexual in nature
• Social passivity is a form of submission to the dominant social forces and decisions makers whereby the subject gives up hope of being a cause for change
• The passive partner in a sexual activity
• "Passive" (song), by A Perfect Circle from their album eMOTIVe
• Not affecting physical matter
  • as in telepathy: see Psionics - Passive
  • Definition- ADJECTIVE- Receptive to outside impressions or influences **

See also

• Passivation

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receptive to outside impressions or influences

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

English

Etymology

< French passif < Latin passivus (“‘serving to express the suffering of an action; in LL. literally capable of suffering or feeling’”) < pati (“‘to suffer’”), pp. passus; see patient.

Pronunciation

•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

Adjective

passive (comparative more passive, superlative most passive)

1. Being subjected to an action without producing a reaction.
2. Taking no action.

   He remained passive during the protest.

3. (grammar) Being in the passive voice.

   The passive form of “A meteorite hit the earth” is “The earth was hit by a meteorite.”

4. (psychology) Being inactive and submissive in a relationship, especially in a sexual one.
5. (Can we verify⁽⁺⁾ this sense?) (finance) Not bearing interest.
6. (finance) Not participating in management.

Antonyms

• active
• aggressive

Derived terms

• passive-aggressive
• passive voice

Related terms

• passion
• passionate
• passivity
• patience
• patient

Translations

Noun

passive (plural passives)

1. (uncountable, grammar) The passive voice of verbs.
2. (countable, grammar) A form of a verb that is in the passive voice.

Translations

External links

• passive in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• passive in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

French

Adjective

passive f.

1. Feminine form of passif.

Italian

Adjective

passive pl.

1. Feminine form of passivo.