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.

He was admitted to the hospital with a presumptive diagnosis of cellulitis.

—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

3

: 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

• believable
• credible
• creditable
• likely
• plausible
• probable

Examples of presumptive in a Sentence

in that climate of fear, an accusation alone was presumptive evidence of guilt

Recent Examples on the Web

The result is that marshmallows eaten out of the bag, with fingers, are presumptive confectionaries, while those toasted over a heat source and used in the making of s’mores receive a dubious VAT exemption. —Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

In particular, the group hounded presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, protesting her support of her husband Bill’s pro-police, pro-incarceration 1994 crime bill. —Alexander Nazaryan, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025

Randy was initially diagnosed with presumptive cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. —Emily Blackwood, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025

Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter is deemed by many NFL scouts as the presumptive favorite to go number one overall during the 2025 NFL Draft. —Kambui Bomani, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing presumptive

• heir presumptive

Rhymes for presumptive

• consumptive

Medical 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