The meaning of PERMISSIVE is granted on sufferance : tolerated. How to use permissive in a sentence.

PERMISSIVE definition: 1. A person or society that is permissive allows behaviour that other people might disapprove of…. Learn more.

PERMISSIVE definition: habitually or characteristically accepting or tolerant of something, as social behavior or linguistic usage, that others might disapprove or forbid. See examples of permissive …

1. tolerant; lenient: permissive parents. 2. indulgent in matters of sex: a permissive society.

Sep 21, 2025 · “Permissive” is commonly used to describe parenting styles, societal attitudes, and policies that are notably liberal or tolerant. It often carries connotations of leniency and can …

A permissive coach will cut players slack during practices and games. Laws can be permissive too — about drugs, guns, and other things that could be tightly controlled. A permissive society is one with …

Definition of permissive adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

There are nine meanings listed in OED's entry for the word permissive, one of which is considered derogatory. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

A permissive person, society, or way of behaving allows or tolerates things which other people disapprove of. ...the permissive tolerance of the 1960s.

Used to describe a situation or person that allows or permits more freedom than usual or more than what might be commonly seen as acceptable. It can sometimes have a negative connotation when …