The word passive refers to a state of being inactive, or not participating actively in a situation. Someone who is passive does not take initiative or show strong feelings or actions, often allowing things to happen to them without resistance or involvement.
The word passive originates from the Latin word passivus, which means "able to suffer," and is related to the verb patī, meaning "to suffer" or "to endure." The term has evolved in English to describe a state of inaction or lack of resistance.