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.
His California origin represents a fundamental challenge that cannot be overcome through political skill or messaging strategy, as the state carries perceptions of being far left, permissive, and disconnected from middle America’s priorities.
From Los Angeles Times
The founders may have opted for more permissive language because they were relying on norms and a jealous legislative branch to constrain presidential adventurism.
The scammers operate in a "highly permissive environment... with permission from junta-affiliated Burmese militia", concluded a report last month by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
From Barron's
Dr Nimer Sultany believes Israel has "repeatedly invoked wild and highly permissive interpretations of the laws of armed conflict, including the question of proportionality, that defy both common sense and authoritative understandings of international law".
From BBC
But the voices of Jews upset over what they have described as UCLA’s permissive approach to campus antisemitism also rose in protest.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
