passive

See also: Passive and passivé

English

Etymology

From Middle French, Old French passif, from Latin passivus (“serving to express the suffering of an action; in late Latin literally capable of suffering or feeling”), from passus, past participle of pati (“to suffer”); compare patient.

Pronunciation
  • (UK, US) enPR: păsʹ-ĭv, IPA(key): /ˈpæs.ɪv/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -æsɪv
  • Hyphenation: pas‧sive

Adjective

passive (comparative more passive, superlative most passive)

Examples (being in the passive voice)

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

  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.
  4. (psychology) Being inactive and submissive in a relationship, especially in a sexual one.
  5. (finance) Not participating in management.
  6. (aviation) Without motive power.
    a passive balloon; a passive aeroplane; passive flight, such as gliding and soaring

Synonyms

Antonyms

Derived terms

Translations
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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
passive voice — see passive voice

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

Anagrams

French

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /pa.siv/

Adjective

passive

  1. feminine singular of passif

Verb

passive

  1. first-person singular present indicative of passiver
  2. third-person singular present indicative of passiver
  3. first-person singular present subjunctive of passiver
  4. third-person singular present subjunctive of passiver
  5. second-person singular imperative of passiver

German

Adjective

passive

  1. inflected form of passiv

Italian

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /pas.ˈsi.ve/, [pas.siː.ve]
  • Hyphenation: pas‧sì‧ve

Adjective

passive f pl

  1. feminine plural of passivo

Anagrams
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