Permissiveness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of allowing or accepting a wide range of behaviors or opinions ; a characteristic of being not strict or lenient in enforcing rules and discipline
2. The state of being open to different actions or beliefs without harsh judgment ; the condition of not imposing rigid control or severe restrictions
3. An attitude of acceptance toward varied conduct or choices ; a tendency to avoid strictness or rigor in maintaining order or standards

Etymology: "Permissiveness" is a plain formation: the adjective "permissive" with the suffix "-ness" added to turn a quality into a noun. The adjective itself comes from "permit," which in English has long meant to allow or let something happen, and "permissive" carries that sense of granting latitude. The suffix "-ness" has a long pedigree in English, descending from Old English "-nes," which was used to form abstract nouns from adjectives, so "greatness," "kindness," and "permissiveness" all follow the same pattern. The word's meaning has grown more specific over time. Its core sense, a readiness to allow or tolerate, applies both to individuals and to societies or institutions, and it is most often used when describing relaxed rules or standards. Because the suffix attaches to the quality rather than to any particular act, the noun names the general tendency toward allowing many behaviors rather than any single permission.

Synonyms: tolerance, leniency, indulgence, liberality, open-mindedness

Antonyms: strictness, intolerance, rigidity, severity, inflexibility