Presumptive
/prɪˈzʌmptɪv/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Presumptive means you believe something is true because of good reasons or signs, but it is not yet proven or officially decided. It often refers to a situation where something is expected to happen or be true, but still needs confirmation.
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See It in Action
Based on reasonable assumption but not yet confirmed
- •The presumptive candidate leads in the polls but has not won the election yet.
- •Doctors made a presumptive diagnosis before the test results arrived.
- •She is the presumptive heir to the family business, but the will is not finalized.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "presumptive" like "possible" or "likely," but with stronger reasons behind the guess.
- ✓Picture a person raising their hand to answer a question—they are not sure, but they think they know the answer.
- ✓It is the feeling when you expect good news but are still waiting for the final result.
- ✓Sounds like "pre-ZUMP-tive" → imagine someone jumping (zump) ahead to an idea before it is fully checked.
- ✓Think of a "presumptive winner" in a contest—someone who looks like they will win, but the final score is not in yet.
- ✓NOT like "certain" (which means fully sure); "presumptive" means "probably, but not confirmed."
- ✓NOT like "guess" (which can be random); "presumptive" is based on some evidence or reason.
- ✓NOT like "confirmed" (official and final); "presumptive" is still waiting for proof.
Try Other Words
- •Probable: meaning it is expected to happen or be true (Use when talking about things that seem true but are not certain)
- •Expected: meaning something is thought to happen soon (Use when focusing on time or future events)
- •Assumed: meaning taken as true without proof (Use when emphasizing the idea is accepted without full evidence)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "pre-" means before
- •Root: "sumpt" from Latin "sumere," meaning to take or assume
- •Suffix: "-ive" forms an adjective meaning having the nature of
- •Origin: From Latin "praesumptivus," meaning "taking beforehand" or "assumed in advance"
- •Historical use: Used in English since the 1600s to describe ideas or things accepted before full proof
- •Modern use: Common in formal speech and writing, especially in law, medicine, and politics to describe something assumed but not yet confirmed
Reflect & Connect
•When is it useful to think in a presumptive way instead of waiting for full proof?
•How can being presumptive help or cause problems in decision-making?
Fill in the blanks
1.The doctor made a presumptive diagnosis ___ seeing all the test results.
2.A presumptive winner is someone who is expected to ___, but the final count is not done.
3.Unlike a confirmed fact, a presumptive idea still needs ___ before it is official.
4.She acted on a presumptive belief that the meeting would start on time, but it was delayed ___.
5.In court, a presumptive assumption can be challenged if new ___ appears.
6.The presumptive heir has not yet inherited the property because the will is not ___.
7.When someone is presumptive, they often speak as if they ___ the truth, but they might be wrong.