Laxi Dictionary

English Dictionary

Define dictionary terms easily in our powerful online English dictionary.

Searching for...

No matching words found

Try a different search term or browse the dictionary

Definition passive in British English

passive adjective

adjective
/ˈpæsɪv/
1

accepting what happens without trying to control or change events or to react to things

Example

a helpless and passive victim

Example

Watching television is a relatively passive activity.

Synonyms and related words
blank restrained impassive
2

in passive verbs or clauses, the subject is the person or thing that is affected by the action of the verb. For example in the sentence 'The order was delivered the next day', the verb group 'was delivered' is passive, and the clause is in the passive voice.

Synonyms and related words
anaphoric cataphoric compound
Definition passive in British English