What does submissive mean?
Submissive describes someone or something that yields to authority, accepts control, or readily obeys another person's wishes. The word is often applied to behavior, attitudes, postures, and responses in which resistance is absent or deliberately suppressed. In its ordinary use, “submissive” may suggest obedience and flexibility, but it can also imply excessive passivity or loss of independence. Its sense depends partly on context: a submissive animal may simply be trained and compliant, whereas a submissive person may be portrayed as powerless or excessively deferential. Submissive belongs to the same Latin-derived word family as “submit” and “submission,” reflecting an underlying idea of placing oneself under another person's authority. The adjective is standard in both British and American English and is especially common in descriptions of behavior, interpersonal dynamics, politics, religion, and artistic style.
Willing to obey, comply with, or yield to the wishes or authority of another person.
"The witness adopted a submissive posture before the magistrate."
Can sound critical when applied to a person who appears overly deferential or unwilling to assert themselves.
Characterized by compliance, passivity, or lack of resistance.
"The proposal met with a submissive response from the committee."
“Submissive” comes from the Latin root for “under,” but the modern word means more than physical positioning: it describes a willingness to yield control.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does submissive come from?
The word derives from Latin submittere, formed from sub- (“under”) and mittere (“to send”), with the original sense of placing or sending something under. English acquired related forms in the late Middle English period, including “submite” and later “submit.” The adjective “submissive” developed in the early 17th century from the Latin stem, meaning inclined to yield to authority or control.
Related word forms
How submissive is actually used
The term is often used to characterize conduct or attitudes, and it may carry a negative connotation when it implies excessive compliance or passivity. Its neutral sense is common in behavioral, political, religious, and historical contexts.
Easily confused with submissive
Submissive describes a person or quality characterized by compliance, whereas submission names the act of surrendering to authority or control.