pasivo
adjectiveCEFR B2
What does “pasivo” mean in English?
passive — accepting without resistance; not active or assertive
passive — accepting without resistance; not active or assertive (actitud pasiva, papel pasivo)
Example sentences
Una actitud pasiva ante el acoso laboral perpetúa el problema: es necesario actuar y denunciar cuando se producen estos casos.
A passive attitude towards workplace harassment perpetuates the problem: it is necessary to act and report when such cases occur.
El fumador pasivo está expuesto a los mismos riesgos para la salud que el fumador activo, aunque en menor medida.
The passive smoker is exposed to the same health risks as the active smoker, albeit to a lesser degree.
How to use it
Pasivo/a means 'passive' — not active; accepting without resistance. Common collocations: actitud pasiva, papel pasivo, resistencia pasiva, fumador pasivo. Ser/estar: ser for character; estar for a current state. Technical uses: in grammar (voz pasiva), in finance (pasivo = liabilities).
Common mistake
Pasivo ≠ inactivo: inactivo means simply not active (a dormant account); pasivo implies deliberately not reacting or engaging when one could. Pasivo carries a more evaluative, often critical charge.