permissive

adjective

per·​mis·​sive pər-ˈmi-siv How to pronounce permissive (audio)
1
archaic : granted on sufferance : tolerated
2
a
: granting or tending to grant permission : tolerant
b
: deficient in firmness or control : indulgent, lax
3
: allowing discretion : optional
reduced the permissive retirement age from 65 to 62
4
: supporting growth or genetic replication (as of a virus)
permissive host cells
permissively adverb
permissiveness noun

Examples of permissive in a Sentence

Some states have more permissive laws than others.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Until at least about the mid-1940s, this more permissive culture created a more tolerant climate, at least seasonally, for LGBTQ people, especially those who were white. Julio Capó Jr. / Made By History, TIME, 6 Sep. 2024 Small celebrity minority stake sales are more common in other leagues, like MLS and NWSL, where ownership rules are often more permissive and minority stakes cost significantly less. Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2024 The cases highlight the complex factors that lead to teen violence and the frustrating weaknesses of the systems that are meant to prevent it within a permissive gun culture. Aja Romano, Vox, 6 Sep. 2024 Although a 2020 poll found that 75 percent of the Japanese public still supports a global ban on nuclear weapons, some Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leaders have adopted a more permissive stance. Amy J. Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 22 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for permissive 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English permyssyf, from Middle French permissif, from Latin permissus

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of permissive was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near permissive

Cite this Entry

“Permissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permissive. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

permissive

adjective
per·​mis·​sive pər-ˈmis-iv How to pronounce permissive (audio)
1
: granting or tending to grant permission : allowing
2
: not forbidden : allowable
permissively adverb
permissiveness noun

Medical Definition

permissive

adjective
per·​mis·​sive pər-ˈmis-iv How to pronounce permissive (audio)
: supporting growth or genetic replication (as of a virus)
permissive temperatures
permissive monkey cells

Legal Definition

permissive

adjective
per·​mis·​sive
1
: based on or having permission
permissive occupancy
a permissive user of the vehicle
2
: granting permission or discretion (as to the court)
a permissive statute
3
: not compulsory: as
a
: allowed or made under a standard, rule, or provision that permits discretion or an option see also permissive intervention at intervention, permissive presumption at presumption compare compulsory
b
: allowed under modern rules of civil procedure although not arising from the same transaction or occurrence as the one at issue in the original claim
a permissive counterclaim
see also permissive joinder at joinder
permissively adverb
permissiveness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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