recessive
UK: rɪˈsesɪv | US: rɪˈsesɪv
adj. (genetics) relating to or denoting a heritable trait that is masked by a dominant trait
adj. tending to recede or withdraw; not prominent
The word "recessive" originates from Latin recess- (past participle stem of recedere, "to go back"), combining re- (back) + cedere (to go). The suffix -ive forms adjectives indicating tendency or capacity. In genetics, "recessive" was first used in the 19th century to describe traits that "recede" or remain hidden when paired with dominant alleles. The term reflects the literal idea of "withdrawing" from phenotypic expression.
Blue eye color is a recessive trait in humans.
The recessive allele only manifests when both copies are present.
His recessive personality made him avoid social gatherings.
The artist used recessive colors to create a muted background.
Inbreeding increases the likelihood of recessive disorders.