permissive

[ per-mis-iv ]

adjective

1. habitually or characteristically accepting or tolerant of something, as social behavior or linguistic usage, that others might disapprove or forbid.

   Synonyms: lax, lenient, indulgent

2. granting or denoting permission:

   a permissive nod.

3. 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.

4. Genetics. (of a cell) permitting replication of a strand of DNA that could be lethal, as a viral segment or mutant gene.

permissive

/ pəˈmɪsɪv /

adjective

1. tolerant; lenient

   permissive parents

2. indulgent in matters of sex

   a permissive society

3. granting permission
4. archaic.
   not obligatory

Derived Forms

• perˈmissiveness, noun
• perˈmissively, adverb

Other Words From

• per·mis·sive·ly adverb
• per·mis·sive·ness noun
• non·per·mis·sive adjective
• non·per·mis·sive·ly adverb
• un·per·mis·sive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of permissive¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Middle French permissif “granting permission”; permission, -ive

Related Words

• indulgent
• lax
• open-minded
• tolerant