| Noun | 1. | passive - the voice used to indicate that the grammatical subject of the verb is the recipient (not the source) of the action denoted by the verb; "`The ball was thrown by the boy' uses the passive voice"; "`The ball was thrown' is an abbreviated passive"voice - (linguistics) the grammatical relation (active or passive) of the grammatical subject of a verb to the action that the verb denotes | |
| Adj. | 1. | passive - lacking in energy or will; "Much benevolence of the passive order may be traced to a disinclination to inflict pain upon oneself"- George Meredithactive - disposed to take action or effectuate change; "a director who takes an active interest in corporate operations"; "an active antagonism"; "he was active in drawing attention to their grievances" | |
| 2. | passive - peacefully resistant in response to injustice; "passive resistance"nonviolent - abstaining (on principle) from the use of violence | |
| 3. | passive - expressing thatthe subject of the sentence is the patient of the action denoted by the verb; "academics seem to favor passive sentences"grammar - studies of the formation of basic linguistic units active - expressing that the subject of the sentence has the semantic function of actor: "Hemingway favors active constructions" | |