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
The teenage phenom has been the presumptive first pick in the 2026 draft for a few years now, but the early returns on his college career have been merely good instead of historically great.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Madsen returned to Boise State in 2025 as the presumptive starter after helping take the Broncos to a second straight Mountain West championship and a College Football Playoff appearance last season.
—Idaho Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025
The presumptive sentence was a 15-year term.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2025
With no presumptive nominee or clear party leader after the 2024 presidential election loss, the Democratic field remains widely contested—a scenario that could reshape the party’s electoral strategy, policy direction and prospects for challenging Republican front-runners in upcoming races.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for presumptive
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Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Madsen returned to Boise State in 2025 as the presumptive starter after helping take the Broncos to a second straight Mountain West championship and a College Football Playoff appearance last season.
—Idaho Statesman, 10 Nov. 2025
The presumptive sentence was a 15-year term.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2025
With no presumptive nominee or clear party leader after the 2024 presidential election loss, the Democratic field remains widely contested—a scenario that could reshape the party’s electoral strategy, policy direction and prospects for challenging Republican front-runners in upcoming races.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 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 20 Nov. 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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