- habitually or characteristically accepting or tolerant of something, as social behavior or linguistic usage, that others might disapprove or forbid.
- granting or denoting permission: a permissive nod.
- left to one's choice; not mandatory: This legislation is permissive and merely authorizes counties to levy a tax if in the county's best interest.
- (of a cell) permitting replication of a strand of DNA that could be lethal, as a viral segment or mutant gene.
- tolerant; lenient
- indulgent in matters of sex
- granting permission
- not obligatory
