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

His parents were unusually permissive, but, when an adolescent Clark started building an ultralight in his garage, his mother set the parts on fire. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024

The Israeli army has marked tens of thousands of Gazans as suspects for assassination, using an AI targeting system with little human oversight and a permissive policy for casualties. —Seyward Darby, Longreads, 3 Apr. 2024

Even the perception of a more permissive policy can have a meaningful impact, as Biden’s original southwest border coordinator appeared to acknowledge at a March 2021 White House briefing. —W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 31 Jan. 2024

Maritime law is permissive of blockades as long as humanitarian aid is unrestricted. —Zach Helder, Foreign Affairs, 22 Mar. 2024

His vision of love life, at least in Mexico, was similarly permissive. —Washington Post, 21 Mar. 2024

The new report mentions that more permissive policies that allowed alcohol deliveries and carryout drinks during the pandemic made drinking more accessible. —Jen Christensen, CNN, 29 Feb. 2024

While San Diego’s pursuit policy says officers should consider a host of factors before initiating a pursuit — including traffic patterns, familiarity with an area and the safety of the person or people being pursued — the crime types that can lead to chases are permissive. —Lyndsay Winkley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2024

Conservative proposals include regulatory reform, like faster permits or more permissive zoning, to reduce construction costs. —Jason Deparle, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2023

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

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