permissive

play

adjective per·mis·sive \pər-ˈmi-siv\

Definition of permissive

1 archaic : granted on sufferance : tolerated
2a : granting or tending to grant permission : tolerantb : 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

See permissive defined for English-language learners

See permissive defined for kids

Examples of permissive in a Sentence

Some states have more permissive laws than others.

Recent Examples of permissive from the Web

Yet lawmakers nationwide are now making largely incremental changes because their existing gun laws already are so permissive or restrictive, Zimring said.

— don thompson, The Seattle Times, "California politicians’ gun control moves hit by 2 setbacks," 30 June 2017
Gun-control advocates contend that reciprocity would drop the standard to the lowest common denominator, essentially forcing all states to honor the most permissive laws on the books.

— lisa marie pane, The Seattle Times, "What’s happened to the pro-gun wish list in Washington?," 26 June 2017
When John Lott wrote his paper, there were just a handful of states that had adopted these permissive [right-to-carry] laws.

— maura ewing, The Atlantic, "Do Right-to-Carry Gun Laws Make States Safer?," 24 June 2017
Liane Hornsey, Uber's human resources executive who started in January after coming from Google, was front and center as the company dealt with allegations by an engineer about a toxic culture that was permissive of sexual harassment.

— jena mcgregor, chicagotribune.com, "The women who could run Uber - if they actually wanted the job," 23 June 2017
The case highlights the ever-growing disconnect between permissive state laws and restrictive federal policies on marijuana use.

— christopher ingraham, The Cannabist, "Why are feds blocking a product aimed at keeping drugs out of kids’ hands?," 16 June 2017
Lawmakers sent Gov. Jerry Brown a measure merging the state’s longstanding medical marijuana law with the much more permissive rules voters approved last year to legalize pot sales to people 21 and older.

— jonathan j. cooper, The Seattle Times, "California looks to boost marijuana, block immigration jails," 15 June 2017
Lawmakers sent Gov. Jerry Brown a measure merging the state’s longstanding medical marijuana law with the much more permissive rules voters approved last year to legalize pot sales to people 21 and older.

— Washington Post, "California looks to boost marijuana, block immigration jails," 15 June 2017
Virginia, where the shooting happened, has more permissive laws regarding firearms.

— benjy sarlin, NBC News, "GOP Lawmaker: I Will Be Carrying a Gun Now," 14 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'permissive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of permissive

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

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PERMISSIVE Defined for English Language Learners

permissive

play

adjective

Definition of permissive for English Language Learners

: giving people a lot of freedom or too much freedom to do what they want to do

Medical Dictionary

permissive

play

adjective per·mis·sive \pər-ˈmis-iv\

Medical Definition of permissive

: supporting growth or genetic replication (as of a virus) permissive temperatures permissive monkey cells

Law Dictionary

permissive

adjective per·mis·sive

Legal Definition of permissive

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