permissive
Americanadjective
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habitually or characteristically accepting or tolerant of something, as social behavior or linguistic usage, that others might disapprove or forbid.
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granting or denoting permission.
a permissive nod.
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left to one's choice; not mandatory.
This legislation is permissive and merely authorizes counties to levy a tax if in the county's best interest.
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Genetics. (of a cell) permitting replication of a strand of DNA that could be lethal, as a viral segment or mutant gene.
adjective
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tolerant; lenient
permissive parents
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indulgent in matters of sex
a permissive society
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granting permission
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archaic not obligatory
Other Word Forms
- nonpermissive adjective
- nonpermissively adverb
- permissively adverb
- permissiveness noun
- unpermissive adjective
Etymology
Origin of permissive
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French permissif “granting permission”; permission, -ive
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.
The provision says that the program “may entail the meaningful financial support” of the investor, which some lobbyists are reading as more permissive than other exceptions that “require” such support.
From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026
Beyond its campus setting, Annie captures a moment when Indian cinema - and state broadcasters - were relatively permissive about youth culture, language and social critique.
From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026
Lee adds that the U.S. decision to allow exports of Nvidia’s H200 chip may signal a policy shift toward a more permissive stance on export controls.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
International health bodies, like a British analysis of global alcohol consumption data, show that nations taking stricter stances have seen measurable public‑health gains, complicating the idea that more permissive guidance is inherently “liberating.”
From Salon • Jan. 10, 2026
It is evident that Calvin scorns to have any recourse to a permissive will in God, in order to soften down the stupendous difficulties under which his system seems to labour.
From A Theodicy, or, Vindication of the Divine Glory by Bledsoe, Albert Taylor
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.
