impassive

Impassive is an adjective used to describe a person, expression, or demeanor that shows little or no emotion. Someone with an impassive face appears unreadable; their features and voice convey calm, but without obvious feelings such as happiness, anger, or sadness. An impassive reaction can be deliberate, as in professional settings, or naturally restrained, depending on the context.

In literature and film, impassive characters are often portrayed as stoic or inscrutable, maintaining composure under pressure. The term can carry ambiguous connotations, suggesting strength and self-control, or coldness and emotional distance, depending on the narrator's perspective and the surrounding events.

Etymology and related forms: Impassive derives from the negative prefix im- attached to passive, with roots in Latin meaning to suffer or endure and the notion of passion. In modern usage it denotes the absence of outward emotion rather than lack of inner feelings. The adverb is impassively, and the nouns impassiveness or impassivity.

Related terms include expressionless, stoic, poker-faced, and unemotional. Common antonyms include expressive and emotional. Impassive should not be confused with impassable, which describes something that cannot be passed.