What does permissible mean?
Word: Permissible
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Permissible means allowed by the rules or by law.
Synonyms: allowed, permitted, acceptable, lawful
Antonyms: prohibited, banned
How do you spell permissible?
Syllables: per - mis - si - ble
Tricky part: The ending is ible, not able, and the s is doubled. Permissable is the most common slip.
Watch out for: permissable, permisible
Memory tip: Possible and permissible share their last six letters, ssible: if something is possible and allowed, it is permissible.
Permissible in a sentence
Example 1: Calculators are not permissible in this maths test.
Example 2: Is it permissible to bring a pet on the train?
Example 3: The noise from the wedding band was far above the permissible limit.
Fun Fact
Many countries set permissible noise limits for homes. The World Health Organization's night-time guidelines for Europe advise keeping average noise outside homes at night below 40 decibels.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word permissible as used in the sentence:
Mobile phones are permissible in the hostel only after evening study hours.
a) forbidden
b) practical
c) fashionable
d) customary
Show answer
a) forbidden. Customary, fashionable and practical say nothing about the rules; forbidden is the opposite of allowed.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
p_rm_ssible
a) u, i
b) a, i
c) e, i
d) e, e
Show answer
c) e, i. Permission gives the start: per, then miss, so an e and an i.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Using a dictionary in the essay contest is not sbimepirlse under the new rules.
a) permissive
b) permissible
c) impossible
d) perishable
Show answer
b) permissible. Permissive needs a v, impossible an o and perishable an h and an a; the eleven letters give permissible.
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. exeption 2. permissible 3. regulation 4. permit
a) acceptable under the rules
b) a case that does not follow the rule
c) an official paper that allows something
d) an official rule
Show answer
b) a case that does not follow the rule. Regulation, permit and permissible need nothing changed; the word for a case outside the rule has lost a letter.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Most libraries treat ____ as permissible.
a) shouting across the room
b) tearing out pages
c) eating a full meal
d) reading quietly at a table
Show answer
d) reading quietly at a table
2. A permissible limit is ____.
a) a guess with no rule
b) the least that is wanted
c) the most that is allowed
d) a prize for winners
Show answer
c) the most that is allowed
