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 of presumptive

• 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

But if presumptive Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and the very probable House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries are cowed by this bigger DSA entourage and choose to floor it, the party could be headed for a crash come 2028. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 Nov. 2026

My Beloved is immediately reminiscent of similar shrewd shifts that Kings of Leon’s presumptive peers have undergone during the 2020s. — Larry Fitzmaurice, Pitchfork, 9 Nov. 2026

The show began with presumptive Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (Sarah Sherman) and the likely next speaker of the House, Hakeem Jeffries (Kenan Thompson), toasting with champagne. — Lucas Trevor, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026

On Wednesday, Hakeem Jeffries, the presumptive next Speaker, posed triumphantly next to a poster board showing Blair’s X post. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2026

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