permissiveper‧mis‧sive /pəˈmɪsɪv $ pər-/ adjective 
parents who are too permissive a permissive society—permissiveness noun [uncountable]: permissiveness in education
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- permissive divorce laws
- He had a very permissive upbringing.
- In the permissive society of the 1960s anything was possible.
- It's not always true that young people have a more permissive attitude towards sex.
- Earlier, permissive legislation had already enabled some authorities to innovate in services for the disabled.
- For both the conservative- and liberal-historians legislative change is of central importance to an understanding of the permissive society.
- It is also possible to combine a rejecting and an authoritarian attitude, or a loving and a permissive one.
- Police powers were permissive in dealing with the lower classes.
- The Fifties were not a permissive era.
- There was a generally growing permissive attitude, although I don't think that the attitude towards homosexuality was particularly permissive.
- Would you trust him/her to a permissive relationship with contemporary television?
Longman Language Activatorpeople/attitudes that are not strict
not strict in the way that you punish people or control their behaviour: · The younger teachers generally had a more lenient attitude towards their students.lenient with: · Some police officers have criticized judges for being too lenient with car thieves and burglars.
someone who is easy-going does not care about being strict, and is usually calm and relaxed: · Our parents are pretty easy-going, and they don't mind if we stay out late.
someone who is soft seems weak because they are not strict enough with other people: · He doesn't have the right personality to be an army officer, he's too soft.soft on: · They accused the government of being too soft on crime.
allowing people to do, say, or believe what they like without fear of being punished or criticized: · I've tried to adopt a fairly tolerant attitude towards his behaviour.tolerant of: · She's not very tolerant of other people's failings.tolerant towards: · You should try to be more tolerant towards other people.
behaviour or an attitude that allows people to do, say, or believe what they like without fear of being punished or criticized: · Tolerance was not a quality you associated with my parents.tolerance of: · The government is beginning to show more tolerance of opposition groups.tolerance towards: · The school encourages an attitude of tolerance towards all people.
willing to understand and respect other people's ideas, opinions, and behaviour, even if you do not approve of them: · I was fortunate enough to have very liberal parents.· He has quite liberal views for someone of his generation.
willing to accept and respect other people's beliefs or behaviour although they many be very different from your own: · My mother's quite broad-minded. She understands my decision to bring up my baby on my own.
a permissive society or person allows behaviour, especially sexual behaviour, that many other people disapprove of: · In the permissive society of the 1960s anything was possible.· It's not always true that young people have a more permissive attitude towards sex.
not strict enough, especially through laziness or carelessness: · The report criticizes the lax security at many prisons.lax about: · I think the school has been too lax about bad behaviour in the past.
allowing someone, especially a child, to behave in whatever way they want because you love them: · Parents can easily fall into the trap of being over-indulgent with their first child.· She was brought up by a succession of over-indulgent relations.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a permissive societyCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
a permissive society· For he grew up before the permissive society and remembers his adolescence.· We live in a permissive society.· The permissive society of the 60's and 70's was not yet dreamed of.· Confusion and uncertainty are the major characteristics of the permissive society according to the conservative-historians.· For both the conservative- and liberal-historians legislative change is of central importance to an understanding of the permissive society.
WORD FAMILYnounpermissionpermitpermissivenessadjectivepermissible ≠ impermissiblepermissiveverbpermit
not strict, and allowing behaviour that many other people would disapprove of: parents who are too permissive a permissive society—permissiveness noun [uncountable]: permissiveness in education