permissive
[per-mis-iv]
- habitually or characteristically accepting or tolerant of something, as social behavior or linguistic usage, that others might disapprove or forbid.
- granting or denoting permission: a permissive nod.
- optional.
- Genetics. (of a cell) permitting replication of a strand of DNA that could be lethal, as a viral segment or mutant gene.
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Origin of permissive
Synonyms
See more synonyms for permissive on Thesaurus.com1. indulgent, lenient, lax.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for permissiveness
Contemporary Examples
“We live in a moment where people feel a certain degree of permissiveness—a willingness to be playful with identity,” he said.
Historical Examples
The "permissiveness" or indifference of the ruler of the universe grows amazingly.
The War and the ChurchesJoseph McCabe
permissive
- tolerant; lenientpermissive parents
- indulgent in matters of sexa permissive society
- granting permission
- archaic not obligatory
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for permissiveness
permissive
adj.
c.1600, "allowing to pass through," from Old French permissif, from Latin permiss-, past participle stem of permittere "to let go, let pass, let loose" (see permit (v.)). In sense of "tolerant, liberal" it is first recorded 1956; by 1966 it had definite overtones of sexual freedom. Earlier it meant "permitted, allowed" (early 15c.). Related: Permissively; permissiveness.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper