Meaning of the word passive in English

What does passive mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

passive

US /ˈpæs.ɪv/
UK /ˈpæs.ɪv/
"passive" picture

Adjective

1.

accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance.

Example:
He remained passive during the discussion, offering no opinions.
The company took a passive approach to market changes.
2.

(of a verb or a sentence) in which the subject of the verb is the person or thing acted on rather than the person or thing performing the action.

Example:
The sentence 'The ball was hit by the boy' is in the passive voice.
Many academic papers prefer the passive voice for objectivity.
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