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
No preventive war Debate about overly permissive use of force reached its zenith in the lead-up to the Bush administration’s invasion of Iraq in 2003.
—
Gerard F. Powers, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
In its prior incarnation, Court TV rode the momentum of cable television through the 1990s and 2000s and took advantage of permissive rules in states like California allowing cameras in courtrooms.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
In the past decade, a surge of wealthy foreigners—lured by this permissive atmosphere, and by blue-chip medical care—have enlisted American women as surrogates.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Thanks to older siblings and friends, permissive parents, fake IDs, and unethical sellers, some young people have always found ways to evade these bans, and similar tactics could work for surmounting a social-media ban as well.
—Keith Humphreys, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Gerard F. Powers, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026
In its prior incarnation, Court TV rode the momentum of cable television through the 1990s and 2000s and took advantage of permissive rules in states like California allowing cameras in courtrooms.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 9 Feb. 2026
In the past decade, a surge of wealthy foreigners—lured by this permissive atmosphere, and by blue-chip medical care—have enlisted American women as surrogates.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Thanks to older siblings and friends, permissive parents, fake IDs, and unethical sellers, some young people have always found ways to evade these bans, and similar tactics could work for surmounting a social-media ban as well.
—Keith Humphreys, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for permissive
Cite this Entry
“Permissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permissive. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
