recessive

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
recessive/rɪˈsesɪv/

▶adjective

• 1 Genetics relating to or denoting heritable characteristics controlled by genes which are expressed in offspring only when inherited from both parents.

  ■ Often contrasted with dominant.

• 2 undergoing an economic recession.

• 3 Phonetics (of stress) tending to fall on the first syllable.

▶noun Genetics a recessive trait or gene.

– derivatives
recessively adverb,
recessiveness noun,
recessivity noun.

– origin C17: from recess, on the pattern of excessive.