dry trust是指“消极信托；名义信托”，也称为“干信托”，该词等同于passive trust 和naked trust。

在这种信托中，受托人只单纯持有信托财产的所有权而实际由受益人支配该财产；或者受托人只单纯将信托财产的所有权转让给受益人而不负有其他任何义务。

在此类信托中，受托人实质上对信托财产不具有对物权；“普通法上的所有权”和“衡平法上的所有权”实际上已合而为一并归于信托受益人，受益人已经从财产利益享用人转变为法律上的所有人；因此法院有权在消极信托依信托条款终止前对其加以解除。

也可以参考其英文释义：

A passive trust is one in which the trustee is a mere passive depositary of the trust property, with no active duties to perform. A passive or dry trust arises when property is vested in one person in trust for another and the nature of the trust, not being prescribed by the donor, is left to the construction of law. A simple, dry, or passive trust is a simple conveyance of property to one upon trust for another without further specifications or directions.