Permissive Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Permissive, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Permissive?

History and Meaning of Permissive

The term "permissive" pertains to an act being allowed or permitted by a court order or any contractual agreement. It is often used in legal contexts to describe instances when it is possible for something to happen or be done, but it is not strictly required or mandatory. This means that while the act in question may not be expressly forbidden, it is not necessarily encouraged or required either.

Examples of Permissive

1. In a divorce settlement, a spouse may be granted permissive visitation rights, meaning that they are allowed to see their children but are not required to do so.
2. A zoning board may grant a developer permissive use of a property, meaning that they can use it for their intended purpose (such as building a store) but are not required to do so.
3. A prosecutor may give permissive immunity to a witness, meaning that they cannot be prosecuted for any wrongdoing they may reveal during their testimony.

Legal Terms Similar to Permissive

1. Discretionary - This term is often used interchangeably with permissive, as it refers to actions that are not strictly required but are at the discretion of the person or entity in question.
2. Non-binding - This term refers to agreements or decisions that are not legally enforceable or mandatory, similar to permissive acts.
3. Optional - This term means that something is not required or mandatory, but is available as a choice. It can be used in similar contexts to permissive.