permissibly

Permissibly is an adverb meaning in a manner that is allowed, permitted by law, rule, or standard. It describes actions, decisions, or conditions that fall within established permissions or guidelines, as opposed to those that are prohibited or questionable.

Etymology: Permissibly derives from the adjective permissible, which comes from Latin permittere, “to let, allow.” The adverb form is built by adding the suffix -ly to permissible.

Usage: The term is most common in formal, legal, regulatory, or ethical contexts. It is used to distinguish what is allowed from what is not, and it often contrasts with impermissibly or impermissible. For example: “The data may be used permissibly under the terms of the license.” “Emissions were produced permissibly under environmental guidelines.” In everyday writing, however, speakers and writers frequently opt for permissible or allowed rather than permissibly, as the adverb can sound overly formal or technical.

Related terms: Permissible (adjective) describes something that is allowed; permissibility (noun) refers to the quality or state of being permissible. Related concepts include permission, which denotes the act of granting allowance, and domain-specific phrases such as permissible exposure limit (PEL) in safety and health contexts.