What does admissive mean?
"Admissive" is a rare formal adjective describing something that relates to, involves, or is characterized by admission — that is, by admitting or allowing something in. It derives from the Latin past participle admissus, from admittere ("to admit"), the same root behind "admission," "admissible," and "admittance." The word appears chiefly in legal, academic, and technical contexts, where writers need an adjective form of "admission": for example, an "admissive provision" in a policy is one that allows entry or acceptance, and "admissive remarks" are statements that concede or acknowledge something. Because it is uncommon, many readers will not know it, and plainer alternatives such as "receptive," "accepting," or "willing to admit" are usually preferable in general prose. Its closest confusable relative is "admissible," which means capable of being admitted — most familiar from courtroom talk about admissible evidence. "Admissive" remains a legitimate but marginal member of the English lexicon, useful mainly when precision demands an adjective built directly on the act of admission.
adjectiveOf, relating to, or characterized by admission; admitting or tending to admit something.
- Relating to or involving admission; admitting or inclined to admit.
"The committee's admissive tone suggested it was prepared to accept the new evidence."
"Her admissive remarks made clear that she had, in fact, authorized the payment."
"The policy's admissive provisions allowed new members to join without a vote."
Rare enough to stump most spellcheckers, "admissive" is the adjective hiding inside words like "admission" and "admissible" — same Latin root, far fewer fans.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of admissive
"Admissive" comes from the Latin past participle admissus, formed on the verb admittere, meaning "to admit" or "to let in" — itself from ad- ("toward") plus mittere ("to send"). English borrowed the word in the early modern period alongside its better-known siblings "admission" and "admissible." It shares this Latin root with a wide family of "-mit" and "-mission" words, including "permit," "transmit," and "remit."
How admissive is actually used
"Admissive" is a rare, formal word, encountered mostly in legal, academic, or technical writing. In everyday English, phrases like "willing to admit" or "receptive" are more natural substitutes.
Easily confused with admissive
"Admissible" means able to be admitted or accepted (especially as evidence), while "admissive" describes something that admits or is characterized by admission.