Permittable

Permittable is an adjective meaning capable of being permitted or allowed under a given set of rules, conditions, or authorities. It denotes potential permission rather than current authorization. In practice, something permittable could be approved if it meets the applicable criteria, rather than already being approved.

Etymology and variants: Permittable derives from the verb permit plus the suffix -able. The term is formed similarly to other -able adjectives, and it emphasizes the possibility of permission. While permittable is understood in many legal and policy contexts, permissible is far more common when stating that something is allowed. Spelling variants include permittible, and the somewhat rarer permitable, though usage varies by style guide and jurisdiction.

Usage: The term appears most often in legal drafting, regulatory analysis, and policy design, where distinctions between what is currently allowed and what could be allowed under certain conditions matter. For example: “The proposed activity is permittable subject to an environmental review.” In contrast, “permissible” would typically indicate that a measure is allowed without additional conditions.

See also: permissible, permit, permission, authorization, compliance.

This article provides a concise overview of permittable, noting its meaning, etymology, and contextual usage as a term indicating potential rather than current authorization.