Which of the following is classified as passive income?

Passive income refers to earnings derived from investments or activities in which an individual is not actively involved on a day-to-day basis. Dividends, which represent a share of a corporation's profits distributed to shareholders, fall into this category because once an individual has invested in stocks or dividend-paying securities, they can earn this income without ongoing effort. The investment is often managed without requiring constant oversight, making it a form of passive income.

In contrast, salary from a job, consulting fees, and selling merchandise all involve active participation. These types of income require continuous work or involvement to generate revenue, which does not align with the concept of passive income. Thus, dividends are the best representation of passive income among the options provided.