permissible
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of permissible
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word permissibilis. See permission, -ible
Explanation
If something is permissible, then it is allowed. If it's not permissible then you probably shouldn't be doing it. If someone asked you, "Is it permissible for me to have a cupcake?" they're asking very formally for your permission to dig in. Usually the word permissible has to do with laws, rules, and what's generally acceptable. It's not permissible to take your pants off in public, for example. Wearing a hat inside is permissible according to the law, but it's not permissible according to church customs or your grandma's rules.
Vocabulary lists containing permissible
"Tinker v. Des Moines": Excerpts from Justice Fortas's Opinion
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -able, -ible
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Most Beautiful Roof in the World
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Halal,” meaning permissible under Islamic law, is a designation most typically associated with procedures for animal slaughter and with the absence of pork or alcohol in consumable products.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
The radical, dangerous and merely stupid are not only permissible but mandatory.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
"It feels like we're hitting kind of the bottom of what is permissible, and if they keep going further, I think something's going to happen," Carassco said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026
Now, the court is saying this is an affirmatively permissible thing.
From Slate ● May 7, 2026
I knew how Nollie had trained her children—but surely, surely now of all times a lie was permissible!
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
