A permissive person, society, or way of behaving allows or tolerates things which other people disapprove of. the permissive tolerance of the 1960s + permissiveness per·mis·sive·ness Permissiveness and democracy go together. not strict, and allowing behaviour that many other people would disapprove of
granting or inclined or able to grant permission; not strict in discipline; "direct primary legislation is largely permissive rather than prescriptive"; "permissive parents"