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
Until at least about the mid-1940s, this more permissive culture created a more tolerant climate, at least seasonally, for LGBTQ people, especially those who were white.
—
Julio Capó Jr. / Made By History, TIME, 6 Sep. 2024
Small celebrity minority stake sales are more common in other leagues, like MLS and NWSL, where ownership rules are often more permissive and minority stakes cost significantly less.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2024
The cases highlight the complex factors that lead to teen violence and the frustrating weaknesses of the systems that are meant to prevent it within a permissive gun culture.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 6 Sep. 2024
Although a 2020 poll found that 75 percent of the Japanese public still supports a global ban on nuclear weapons, some Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leaders have adopted a more permissive stance.
—Amy J. Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 22 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for permissive 
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Julio Capó Jr. / Made By History, TIME, 6 Sep. 2024
Small celebrity minority stake sales are more common in other leagues, like MLS and NWSL, where ownership rules are often more permissive and minority stakes cost significantly less.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2024
The cases highlight the complex factors that lead to teen violence and the frustrating weaknesses of the systems that are meant to prevent it within a permissive gun culture.
—Aja Romano, Vox, 6 Sep. 2024
Although a 2020 poll found that 75 percent of the Japanese public still supports a global ban on nuclear weapons, some Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leaders have adopted a more permissive stance.
—Amy J. Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 22 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for permissive
Dictionary Entries Near permissive
Cite this Entry
“Permissive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permissive. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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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