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
Examples of presumptive in a Sentence
in that climate of fear, an accusation alone was presumptive evidence of guilt
Recent Examples on the Web
In many cases, presumptive testing requires further confirmatory testing.
—Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for presumptive
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Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for presumptive
Cite this Entry
“Presumptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presumptive. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
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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