passivity

1 the trait of remaining inactive; a lack of initiative [syn: passiveness]

2 submission to others or to outside influences [syn: passiveness]

English

Noun

1. The state of being passive
2. submissiveness
3. A lack of initiative

Passive is the opposite of active. It has several specific meanings:

• Passive voice of a verb
• Passivation is the formation of a non-reactive surface film that inhibits further corrosion of a metal
• Passive components in electronics
• Passive mode in File Transfer Protocol
• Passive house, a standard for energy efficient buildings
• The passive partner in a sexual activity
• "Passive" (song), by A Perfect Circle from their album eMOTIVe
• Not affecting physical matter
  • as in telepathy: see Psionics#Passive

See also

• Passivation

Quakerism, a wise passiveness, abeyance, acceptance, acedia, acquiescence, aloofness, amenability, apathy, assent, ataraxia, ataraxy, benumbedness, blah, blahs, blank mind, blankmindedness, blankness, boredom, calm of mind, catalepsy, catatonia, comatoseness, complaisance, compliance, consent, contemplation, contemplative life, deadliness, deathliness, deference, detachment, disinterest, dispassion, do-nothing policy, do-nothingism, do-nothingness, dormancy, drowsiness, dullness, emptiness of mind, empty-headedness, enervation, ennui, entropy, fallow mind, fatigue, fatuity, foolishness, heartlessness, heaviness, hebetude, homage, hopelessness, humbleness, humility, idleness, immobility, inaction, inactivity, inanimation, inanity, inappetence, indifference, indolence, inertia, inertness, insouciance, jadedness, kneeling, lack of appetite, lackadaisicalness, laissez-aller, laissez-faire, laissez-faireism, languidness, languishment, languor, languorousness, lassitude, latency, lenitude, lentor, lethargicalness, lethargy, lifelessness, listlessness, lotus-eating, meditation, meekness, mental blankness, neutralism, neutrality, neutralness, nirvana, nonchalance, noninvolvement, nonopposal, nonopposition, nonparticipation, nonresistance, nonviolence, nonviolent resistance, numbness, obedience, obeisance, oblivion, oscitancy, pacifism, paralysis, passive resistance, passive self-annihilation, passiveness, passivism, phlegm, phlegmaticalness, phlegmaticness, plucklessness, policy, procrastination, quiescence, quietism, resignation, resignedness, satedness, sleepiness, sloth, slothfulness, slowness, sluggishness, somnolence, sopor, soporifousness, spiritlessness, spunklessness, stagnancy, stagnation, standpattism, stasis, stupefaction, stupor, subjection, submission, submissiveness, submittal, supineness, suspense, tabula rasa, thoughtfreeness, thoughtlessness, torpidity, torpidness, torpitude, torpor, tranquillity, uncomplainingness, unconcern, unintelligence, vacancy, vacuity, vegetation, vis inertiae, vita contemplativa, waiting game, watching and waiting, weariness, withdrawnness, world-weariness, yielding