presumptive

CEFRB2

/pɹɪˈzʌm(p)tɪv/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Based on a reasonable belief rather than definite proof.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Based on presumption or conjecture; inferred, likely, presumed.

Examples

  • He is considered the presumptive heir to the family fortune.

  • He is viewed as the presumptive nominee for the election.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
2

Also pronounced

  • /pɹə-/
  • /pɹiˈzʌm(p)tɪv/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Often postpositive, as in heir presumptive: of an heir or heiress: presumed to be entitled to inherit unless someone with a superior entitlement is born.

  2. Of a cell or tissue: which has yet to differentiate, but is presumed to develop into a particular body part.

  3. Synonym of presumptuous (“making unwarranted presumptions or assumptions, often out of arrogance or excessive self-confidence, and thus exceeding what is appropriate or right”).

More examples

In context

  • The doctor made a presumptive diagnosis based on the symptoms.

  • By late May, he was already considered his party’s presumptive nominee.

  • Forgive me for being presumptive, but aren’t you and Mark engaged?

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The blank heir to the throne, being the king's eldest son, was expected to rule.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

PIE word *upó From pre- + Latin sūmptus + -ive, from Late Middle English presumptif, presumptijf (“based on presumption”), from Anglo-Norman presumptif and Middle French presumptif, présomptif (“based on presumption; of an heir or heiress: presumed to be entitled to inherit unless someone with a superior entitlement is born; presumptuous”) (modern French présomptif), and directly from their etymon Late Latin praesumptivus (“based on presumption; bold; insolent”), from Latin praesūmptus (“presumed”) + -īvus (suffix forming adjectives). Praesūmptus is the perfect passive participle of praesūmō (“to presume”), from prae- (prefix meaning ‘before; in front’) + sūmō (“to seize, take; to accept, p...