Permissive Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

permissive

adjective

per·mis·sive pər-ˈmi-siv

Synonyms of permissive next

archaic : granted on sufferance : tolerated

: granting or tending to grant permission : tolerant

: deficient in firmness or control : indulgent, lax

: allowing discretion : optional

reduced the permissive retirement age from 65 to 62

: supporting growth or genetic replication (as of a virus)

permissive host cells

permissively adverb

permissiveness noun

Example Sentences

Some states have more permissive laws than others.

Recent Examples on the Web Meanwhile, big cities such as Dallas and Houston, are in red states with largely permissive gun laws. —

Politifact Staff Writer, Dallas News, 10 May 2023 Russia allows a very pervasive environment and permissive environment for cybercriminals. —

CBS News, 12 Mar. 2023 Midjourney’s content restrictions are more permissive than some rival services (like OpenAI’s DALL-E) but more restrictive than others (i.e., Stable Diffusion). —

James Vincent, The Verge, 30 Mar. 2023 Virginia, home to the headquarters of the National Rifle Association, has historically had permissive gun laws. —

J. David Goodman, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2022 With an evenly split Senate, Dettelbach will need the support of moderates from states with permissive gun laws who helped to scuttle Chipman’s nomination. —

Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 May 2022 In that instance, the notoriously permissive Russian government would free or encourage the criminal groups within its borders to unleash epidemics of ransomware on Western networks in an attempt to discourage or distract the US or NATO from intervening to aid Ukraine. —

Garrett M. Graff, Wired, 15 Feb. 2022 In fairness, Sound Running doesn’t have a broadcasting agreement with one of the largest television networks in the world, so the company can probably afford to be a little more permissive. —

Martin Fritz Huber, Outside Online, 2 Mar. 2023 Goa, however, is more permissive. —

Damien Cave, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'permissive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler

The first known use of permissive was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Permissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permissive. Accessed 31 May. 2023.

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Kids Definition

permissive

adjective

per·mis·sive pər-ˈmis-iv

: granting or tending to grant permission : allowing

: 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

: based on or having permission

permissive occupancy

a permissive user of the vehicle

: granting permission or discretion (as to the court)

a permissive statute

: not compulsory: as

: 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

: 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