presumptive
adjective
pre·sump·tive
pri-ˈzəm(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.
Joe Gyan Jr.He was admitted to the hospital with a presumptive diagnosis of cellulitis.—Mary Jo Bonner
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
The Journal of the American Medical Association3
: 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
Here’s how past presidents dealt with aging The poll comes as Biden and Trump — the presumptive nominees of their respective parties — have agreed to debate twice, on CNN in June and on ABC News in September.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 21 May 2024
Now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, he is expected to again face off with incumbent Joe Biden in November.
—Raven Brunner, Peoplemag, 20 May 2024
With the prosecution's case nearing its end, Trump's attorneys hope Cohen's admission — on top of his numerous other past lies and crimes — will sow doubt in jurors' minds about Cohen's crucial testimony implicating the presumptive Republican presidential nominee in the hush money scheme.
—Michael R. Sisak, Jennifer Peltz, TIME, 20 May 2024
Former President Donald Trump, who earned the presumptive nominee title in March, will formally become his party's selection for president.
—Hope Karnopp, Journal Sentinel, 20 May 2024
Does the presumptive Republican presidential nominee understand the magnitude of America’s challenge?
—Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 20 May 2024
Biden touts record with Black voters Polling shows Biden is vastly underperforming his 2020 performance among Black voters, a reliably Democratic constituency, as some drift to Donald Trump, the former president and presumptive Republican nominee.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 19 May 2024
Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has visited Saginaw County and Waterford Township.
—Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 19 May 2024
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee has been criticized by Mr. Biden, specifically for remarks that Mr. Trump made this year after a school shooting in Iowa.
—Adriana Gomez, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 May 2024
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 21 May 2024
Now the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, he is expected to again face off with incumbent Joe Biden in November.
—Raven Brunner, Peoplemag, 20 May 2024
With the prosecution's case nearing its end, Trump's attorneys hope Cohen's admission — on top of his numerous other past lies and crimes — will sow doubt in jurors' minds about Cohen's crucial testimony implicating the presumptive Republican presidential nominee in the hush money scheme.
—Michael R. Sisak, Jennifer Peltz, TIME, 20 May 2024
Former President Donald Trump, who earned the presumptive nominee title in March, will formally become his party's selection for president.
—Hope Karnopp, Journal Sentinel, 20 May 2024
Does the presumptive Republican presidential nominee understand the magnitude of America’s challenge?
—Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 20 May 2024
Biden touts record with Black voters Polling shows Biden is vastly underperforming his 2020 performance among Black voters, a reliably Democratic constituency, as some drift to Donald Trump, the former president and presumptive Republican nominee.
—Joey Garrison, USA TODAY, 19 May 2024
Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has visited Saginaw County and Waterford Township.
—Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 19 May 2024
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee has been criticized by Mr. Biden, specifically for remarks that Mr. Trump made this year after a school shooting in Iowa.
—Adriana Gomez, The Christian Science Monitor, 18 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'presumptive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near presumptive
Cite this Entry
“Presumptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presumptive. Accessed 28 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
presumptive
adjective
pre·sump·tive
pri-ˈzəm(p)-tiv
1
: expected to develop in a particular direction under normal conditions
presumptive regions of the blastula
2
: being the embryonic precursor of
presumptive neural tissue
3
: giving grounds for reasonable opinion
a presumptive diagnosis of dengue
presumptive or confirmed cases of communicable disease
Legal Definition
presumptive
adjective
pre·sump·tive
pri-ˈzəmp-tiv
1
: based on presumption : presumed to have occurred
a presumptive violation of law
2
: giving grounds for reasonable opinion or belief
presumptively
adverb
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