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
Examples of presumptive in a Sentence
in that climate of fear, an accusation alone was presumptive evidence of guilt
Recent Examples on the Web
Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter is deemed by many NFL scouts as the presumptive favorite to go number one overall during the 2025 NFL Draft.
—Kambui Bomani, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Given the alignment of symptoms and the raw seafood and salads eaten in Hawaii, the doctors gave a presumptive diagnosis of central nervous system angiostrongyliasis.
—Ars Technica, 13 Feb. 2025
As presumptive head of the National Space Council, Vice President J.D. Vance can inject a sense of urgency and energy to get American boots on the ground as soon as possible, and permanently inhabit the moon by 2030, through public-private partnerships.
—John Kross, Space.com, 3 Feb. 2025
President-elect Trump announced Thursday his latest batch of presumptive nominees to serve in his forthcoming administration.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for presumptive
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Kambui Bomani, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Given the alignment of symptoms and the raw seafood and salads eaten in Hawaii, the doctors gave a presumptive diagnosis of central nervous system angiostrongyliasis.
—Ars Technica, 13 Feb. 2025
As presumptive head of the National Space Council, Vice President J.D. Vance can inject a sense of urgency and energy to get American boots on the ground as soon as possible, and permanently inhabit the moon by 2030, through public-private partnerships.
—John Kross, Space.com, 3 Feb. 2025
President-elect Trump announced Thursday his latest batch of presumptive nominees to serve in his forthcoming administration.
—Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for presumptive
Cite this Entry
“Presumptive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presumptive. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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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