From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishpassive resistanceˌpassive reˈsistance noun [uncountable] PPPa way of protesting against something or opposing a government without using violence They tried to achieve their aims by passive resistance.
Examples from the Corpus
passive resistance• But passive resistance doesn't work.• There was great resentment, and considerable passive resistance.• He might have been, like Gandhi, an apostle of passive resistance.• The Magdalen College affair, for example, provides a classic example of passive resistance.• Nor could Edna forgive Jane her offensive passive resistance.• Within the classroom too teachers have to live with an active or passive resistance to their best efforts.• Open negativism turns into stony passive resistance.• The firm and repeated instruction of the strike organisers was that passive resistance alone was to be used. 