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

• plausible
• credible
• 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

Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election, succumbed to injuries sustained in an assassination attempt. —Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025

Curtis Sliwa of Guardian Angels fame is the presumptive Republican nominee for mayor. —Téa Kvetenadze, New York Daily News, 11 June 2025

Mamdani is now the presumptive Democratic candidate after receiving the most votes in the primary last week. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 1 July 2025

Mamdani was the presumptive nominee, after former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo conceded the race the night of the primary election last week. —Chantelle Lee, Time, 1 July 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