permissive

adjective

per·​mis·​sive pər-ˈmi-siv 

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

In reality, many public IaC repositories contain risky configurations—from overly permissive access policies to unencrypted storage, as highlighted in Sysdig’s 2024 Cloud-Native Security Report. —Matthew Sweeney, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

Following public outcry, the council and mayor are scaling back the city’s permissive policy on accessory dwelling units. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 June 2025

But our state’s law regarding homeschooling is one of the most permissive in the country. —Peter Wolfgang, National Review, 27 May 2025

That distraction will be even greater if the military’s growing domestic role, or its permissive new approach to weighing civilian harm in overseas operations, embroils it in public controversy. —Risa Brooks, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2025

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

Rhymes for permissive

• derisive
• dismissive
• emissive
• submissive
• transmissive
• missive

Kids Definition

permissive

adjective

per·​mis·​sive pər-ˈmis-iv 

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 

: 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