permissive
UK: pəˈmɪsɪv | US: pərˈmɪsɪv
adj. allowing or characterized by great freedom of behavior
adj. tolerant or lenient, especially in social or moral standards
The word "permissive" originates from Latin permissus, the past participle of permittere ("to allow, let pass"), combining per- ("through") and mittere ("to send"). The morpheme per- implies thoroughness or completion, while miss retains its core meaning of "sending" or "letting go." Over time, permissive evolved to describe attitudes or systems that "send through" or allow freedom, reflecting leniency or tolerance. The suffix -ive turns it into an adjective, emphasizing the trait of allowing.
The school has a permissive policy regarding dress codes.
Her permissive parenting style often led to disagreements with stricter relatives.
The law was criticized for being too permissive toward corporate misconduct.
In the 1960s, society became more permissive about discussing taboo topics.
The software’s permissive license allows developers to modify it freely.