presumptive
adjective
pre·sump·tive
pri-Ë?zÉ™m(p)-tiv
1
: based on probability or presumption
the presumptive nominee/winner
see also heir presumptive
2
: giving grounds for reasonable opinion or belief
A blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent is considered presumptive evidence of drunken driving in Louisiana for those 21 and older.—Joe Gyan Jr.
He was admitted to the hospital with a presumptive diagnosis of cellulitis.—Mary Jo Bonner
… health departments in 20 states reported 100 presumptive or confirmed human cases of arboviral disease …—The Journal of the American Medical Association
3
: being an embryonic precursor with the potential for forming a particular structure or tissue in the normal course of development
presumptive retina
presumptively
adverb
Synonyms
Examples of presumptive in a Sentence
in that climate of fear, an accusation alone was presumptive evidence of guilt
Recent Examples on the Web
Biden stepped aside for Vice President Kamala Harris in late July, becoming the first presumptive presidential nominee in the modern primary era to drop a reelection bid.
—Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 23 Dec. 2024
That led associate Jeff Oh Kern to assert himself as the presumptive beneficiary, though he is not legally considered the owner of the property.
—Andrew King, Axios, 17 Dec. 2024
How state officials enabled Steward’s rise and fall (Boston Globe)
Louisiana resident hospitalized with first presumptive positive case of bird flu (The Daily Advertiser)
Hurricane Helene destroyed a Tennessee hospital.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 16 Dec. 2024
The presumptive bird flu case was announced on Friday, in a Marin County health newsletter, which provided few details about the case or the county and state’s investigation.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near presumptive
Cite this Entry
“Presumptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presumptive. Accessed 10 Jan. 2025.
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