Permissive dictionary definition | permissive defined

permissive

[pər mis′iv]

Use permissive in a sentence

adjective

The definition of permissive is tolerant of something, often something of which others would disapprove.
An example of permissive is a parent who allows her child to have a cell phone at the age of four.

permissive

adjective

giving permission; that permits
allowing freedom; esp., tolerant of behavior or practices disapproved of by others; indulgent; lenient
Archaic allowable and at one's option

Origin of permissive

Middle English ; from Middle French permissif ; from Medieval Latin permissivus ; from past participle of Classical Latin permittere

Related Forms:

permissively
adverb
permissiveness
noun

permissive

adjective

a. Granting or inclined to grant permission; tolerant or lenient: permissive parents.
b. Characterized by freedom of personal behavior or a disregard of traditional social mores.
Permitted or optional: permissive uses of funds.
Biology Supporting viral replication. Used of a cell.

Related Forms:

per·mis′sive·ly
adverb

per·mis′sive·ness
noun

permissive

Adjective

(comparative more permissive, superlative most permissive)

Giving, or predisposed to give permission; lenient.

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Sentence Examples

Accepting the law he distinguishes productive from permissive or transmissive function (p. 32), and, rejecting the view that brain produces thought, he recognizes that in our present condition brain transmits thought, thought needs brain for its organ of expression; but this does not exclude the possibility of a condition in which thought will be no longer so dependent on brain.
All of our walks are based on public or permissive footpaths.
A different permissive paraphrase is found in Hilary of Poitiers (A.D.
A local example of a permissive path is the Wirral Way.
We live in the most tolerant and permissive of times; being progressive and open-minded has never been so cool.

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Words near permissive in the dictionary