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

But following public pushback over data center projects in Hazle Township and surrounding areas, Shapiro walked back the permissive AI infrastructure policies. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026

The same officiating crews that produce flag-heavy games during the regular season generally adopt a more permissive standard in the playoffs. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Florida’s widespread data collection, permissive statutes related to data retention and sharing, and lack of preemptive safeguards and oversight informs a much broader conversation about surveillance, privacy and government accountability. — Abigail Hall, The Conversation, 5 Oct. 2026

Cultural differences are also a concern, particularly with tourists visiting countries with much less permissive societies than the one they are used to. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026

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