Passive — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈpa-siv/ pas·sive

Meaning & Definition of Passive

Passive (adjective)

  1. acted upon by an external agency
  2. receptive to outside impressions or influences
  3. asserting that the grammatical subject of a verb is subjected to or affected by the action represented by that verb

Passive (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

Passive (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. receiving or enduring without offering resistance

    "the union rank and file were surprisingly passive about the givebacks in the new labor contract"

    similar: acquiescent, nonresistant, resigned, tolerant, tolerating, unresistant, yielding
    related: forbearing, impassive, long-suffering, patient, stoic, uncomplaining, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, conformable, conformist, docile, guidable, law-abiding, obedient, pliable, pliant, subordinate, tractable, willing, obeisant, submissive, surrendering, amiable, obliging, slavish, subservient, disciplined, governable, manageable, apathetic, uncaring, unresponsive
    opposite: protesting, resistant, resisting, unyielding
    near: defiant, contrary, contumacious, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, insurgent, intractable, mutinous, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, restive, uncontrollable, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, balky, perverse, wayward, wrongheaded, headstrong, willful, indomitable, undisciplined, unmanageable, dissident, nonconformist

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Passive

The most common words with a similar meaning to Passive:

acquiescent, nonresistant, resigned, tolerant, tolerating, unresistant, yielding

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Passive

Words with the opposite meaning of Passive:

protesting, resistant, resisting, unyielding

Related Words for Passive

forbearing, impassive, long-suffering, patient, stoic, uncomplaining, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, conformable, conformist, docile, guidable, law-abiding, obedient, pliable, pliant, subordinate, tractable, willing, obeisant, submissive, surrendering, amiable, obliging, slavish, subservient, disciplined, governable

Near Antonyms of Passive

defiant, contrary, contumacious, disobedient, froward, incompliant, insubordinate, insurgent, intractable, mutinous, rebellious, recalcitrant, refractory, restive, uncontrollable, ungovernable, unruly, untoward, balky, perverse, wayward, wrongheaded, headstrong, willful, indomitable, undisciplined, unmanageable, dissident, nonconformist

Word Forms of Passive

Derived words: passively (adverb), passiveness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Passive

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

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Passive

Words & Phrases Containing Passive

passive-aggressive, passive immunity, passive-matrix, passive resistance, passive restraint, passive smoking, passive transfer, passive transport

Frequently Asked Questions about Passive

What does "Passive" mean?

"Passive" means acted upon by an external agency. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: acted upon by an external agency.

What is another word for "Passive"?

Other words for "Passive" include acquiescent, nonresistant, resigned, tolerant, tolerating, unresistant and yielding. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Passive" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Passive"?

There are 41 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Passive". Common alternatives include acquiescent, nonresistant, resigned, tolerant, tolerating, unresistant and yielding.

What is the opposite of "Passive"?

Antonyms of "Passive" include protesting, resistant, resisting and unyielding. Near antonyms include defiant, contrary, contumacious and disobedient.

How do you use "Passive" in a sentence?

Examples of "Passive" in a sentence: "the union rank and file were surprisingly passive about the givebacks in the new labor contract".

Is "Passive" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Passive" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Passive" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Passive" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Passive"?

"Passive" is pronounced /ˈpa-siv/ and divided into syllables as pas·sive.