1. the practice or principle of passive resistance to authority, especially as a form of nonviolent protest
2. a tendency to be passive or inactive rather than taking direct action

Examples

• Gandhi’s philosophy of passivism influenced civil rights movements worldwide.
• The protesters embraced passivism, refusing to respond to violence with violence.
• His passivism in the face of injustice frustrated his more activist friends.
• The movement’s commitment to passivism helped maintain moral authority.
• Critics argued that passivism was ineffective against such brutal oppression.
• She rejected passivism in favor of more direct political engagement.