presumptive

[ pri-zuhmp-tiv ]
See synonyms for presumptive on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. affording ground for belief or presumption: presumptive evidence.

  2. based on likelihood or presumption: a presumptive title; the presumptive nominee.

  1. regarded as such by presumption; based on inference; assumed: a presumptive case of pneumonia.

  2. Embryology. pertaining to the part of an embryo that, in the course of normal development, will predictably become a particular structure or region.

Origin of presumptive

1
From the Late Latin word praesūmptīvus, dating back to 1555–65. See presumption, -ive

Other words from presumptive

  • pre·sump·tive·ly, adverb
  • non·pre·sump·tive, adjective
  • non·pre·sump·tive·ly, adverb
  • o·ver·pre·sump·tive, adjective
  • o·ver·pre·sump·tive·ly, adverb
  • un·pre·sump·tive, adjective
  • un·pre·sump·tive·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with presumptive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use presumptive in a sentence

  • Presumptively they were organized in gentes, but the evidence of the fact is lost.

    Ancient Society | Lewis Henry Morgan
  • Presumptively, it was the same among the Greeks of the traditionary period.

    Ancient Society | Lewis Henry Morgan
  • If the Pawnees are organized in gentes, presumptively the other tribes are the same.

    Ancient Society | Lewis Henry Morgan
  • Presumptively it was possessed by them while in the Upper Status of barbarism.

    Ancient Society | Lewis Henry Morgan
  • Presumptively and naturally, marriage within the gens was prohibited.

    Ancient Society | Lewis Henry Morgan

British Dictionary definitions for presumptive

presumptive

/ (prɪˈzʌmptɪv) /


adjective
  1. based on presumption or probability

  2. affording reasonable ground for belief

  1. of or relating to embryonic tissues that become differentiated into a particular tissue or organ: presumptive epidermis

Derived forms of presumptive

  • presumptively, adverb
  • presumptiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012