permissive
adjective
per·mis·sive
pər-ˈmi-siv 
1
archaic
: granted on sufferance : tolerated
2
a
: granting or tending to grant permission : tolerant
3
: allowing discretion : optional
reduced the permissive retirement age from 65 to 62
4
: supporting growth or genetic replication (as of a virus)
permissive host cells
permissively
adverb
permissiveness
noun
Examples of permissive in a Sentence
Some states have more permissive laws than others.
Recent Examples on the Web
Whereas regulatory policy was decentralized and permissive in the United States, it was centralized and strict in Canada and centralized but ineffective in Spain.
—
Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
During Wednesday’s hearing, the state’s utility regulator and Pacific Gas & Electric pushed back on lawmakers’ accusations of being too permissive with rate increases and profiteering from them.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2025
Keep in mind that authoritative parenting is not permissive.
—Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 11 Feb. 2025
In an already permissive environment, Kennedy’s confirmation could signal to supplement manufacturers that anything goes, Cohen said.
—Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for permissive
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Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
During Wednesday’s hearing, the state’s utility regulator and Pacific Gas & Electric pushed back on lawmakers’ accusations of being too permissive with rate increases and profiteering from them.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2025
Keep in mind that authoritative parenting is not permissive.
—Lauryn Higgins, Parents, 11 Feb. 2025
In an already permissive environment, Kennedy’s confirmation could signal to supplement manufacturers that anything goes, Cohen said.
—Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Cite this Entry
“Permissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permissive. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
permissive
adjective
per·mis·sive
pər-ˈmis-iv
permissively
adverb
permissiveness
noun
Medical Definition
permissive
adjective
per·mis·sive
pər-ˈmis-iv
: supporting growth or genetic replication (as of a virus)
permissive temperatures
permissive monkey cells
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