presumptive
adjective
pre·sump·tive
pri-ˈzəm(p)-tiv 
1
: based on probability or presumption
the presumptive nominee/winner
see also heir presumptive
2
: giving grounds for reasonable opinion or belief
A blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent is considered presumptive evidence of drunken driving in Louisiana for those 21 and older.—
Joe Gyan Jr.
Joe Gyan Jr.He was admitted to the hospital with a presumptive diagnosis of cellulitis.—Mary Jo Bonner
Mary Jo Bonner… health departments in 20 states reported 100 presumptive or confirmed human cases of arboviral disease …—The Journal of the American Medical Association
The Journal of the American Medical Association3
: being an embryonic precursor with the potential for forming a particular structure or tissue in the normal course of development
presumptive retina
presumptively
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of presumptive in a Sentence
in that climate of fear, an accusation alone was presumptive evidence of guilt
Recent Examples on the Web
How state officials enabled Steward’s rise and fall (Boston Globe)
Louisiana resident hospitalized with first presumptive positive case of bird flu (The Daily Advertiser)
Hurricane Helene destroyed a Tennessee hospital.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 16 Dec. 2024
The presumptive bird flu case was announced on Friday, in a Marin County health newsletter, which provided few details about the case or the county and state’s investigation.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
After years of attempts to rid her body of this presumptive evil, authorization to perform an exorcism was granted.
—Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
No Labels intended to offer a different choice than the presumptive presidential nominees at that time -- incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump -- to citizens who yearned for something new instead of a repeat of the 2020 election.
—Kelsey Walsh, ABC News, 27 Nov. 2024
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Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 16 Dec. 2024
The presumptive bird flu case was announced on Friday, in a Marin County health newsletter, which provided few details about the case or the county and state’s investigation.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
After years of attempts to rid her body of this presumptive evil, authorization to perform an exorcism was granted.
—Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
No Labels intended to offer a different choice than the presumptive presidential nominees at that time -- incumbent President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump -- to citizens who yearned for something new instead of a repeat of the 2020 election.
—Kelsey Walsh, ABC News, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for presumptive
Dictionary Entries Near presumptive
Cite this Entry
“Presumptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presumptive. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
presumptive
adjective
pre·sump·tive
pri-ˈzəm(p)-tiv
1
: expected to develop in a particular direction under normal conditions
presumptive regions of the blastula
2
: being the embryonic precursor of
presumptive neural tissue
3
: giving grounds for reasonable opinion
a presumptive diagnosis of dengue
presumptive or confirmed cases of communicable disease
Legal Definition
presumptive
adjective
pre·sump·tive
pri-ˈzəmp-tiv
1
: based on presumption : presumed to have occurred
a presumptive violation of law
2
: giving grounds for reasonable opinion or belief
presumptively
adverb
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