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
Etymology
Origin of permissive
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French permissif “granting permission”; see origin at permission, -ive
Explanation
Being permissive is the opposite of being strict. Permissive parents let their kids stay up later and have more sweets. A permissive person is a little more lenient or loosey-goosey with the rules. A permissive teacher is easier on the students and lets them get away with more. A permissive coach will cut players slack during practices and games. Laws can be permissive too — about drugs, guns, and other things that could be tightly controlled. A permissive society is one with more freedom. When a situation is permissive, there's permission to do more things.
Vocabulary lists containing permissive
Measure for Measure
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You Bring the Distant Near
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The Wind in the Willows
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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.
“I do think that it’s really hard to try to move your kids towards healthy eating habits when the overall culture is very permissive of ultra processed foods,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Regulators are in a permissive phase, and that could be a bonanza for fund companies cooking up ever wilder ideas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
The U.S. is a bit of an outlier in its permissive approach to youth indoor tanning.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2026
“The operating environment in the Strait therefore remains unchanged, with permissive passings continuing under the same conditions as before,” according to Kpler’s MarineTraffic External link data service.
From Barron's ● Apr. 9, 2026
Again, the Act is permissive as regards the action of the justices in causing the overseers to bring the lunatic before them, and calling in a medical man to their assistance.
From Chapters in the History of the Insane in the British Isles by Daniel Hack Tuke
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
