permissible

[per-mis-uh-buhl]

adjective

1. that can be permitted; allowable.

   a permissible amount of sentimentality under the circumstances; Such behavior is not permissible!

   Synonyms: legal, lawful, allowed

permissible

/ pəˈmɪsəbəl /

adjective

1. permitted; allowable

Other Word Forms

• permissibility noun
• permissibleness noun
• permissibly adverb
• nonpermissibility noun
• nonpermissible adjective
• nonpermissibly adverb
• unpermissible adjective
• unpermissibly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of permissible¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Medieval Latin word permissibilis. See permission, -ible

Example Sentences

And unlike decades ago — when Ramos had to sneak around in darkness to spray-paint his nickname in large, block letters all over the city and surrounding areas — this time it was fully permissible.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"People feel that it's now permissible for them to spout racist hate crime and hate speech because they're seeing this on their TVs," she said.

Read more on BBC

He argued he was simply in favour of choice, that it would be equally permissible to favour homosexual offspring and that it was simply natural to want grandchildren.

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But Baldoni and his production company "have not adequately alleged that Lively's threats were wrongful extortion rather than legally permissible hard bargaining or renegotiation of working conditions", Judge Liman wrote at that time.

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“Under international human rights law, the intentional use of lethal force is only permissible as a last resort against individuals who pose an imminent threat to life,” Türk added.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• acceptable 
• admissible 
• bearable 
• lawful 
• legitimate 
• permitted 
• proper 
• tolerable