presumptive

IPA/prɪˈzʌmptɪv/
KK[prizˈʌmptɪv]IPA/prɪˈzʌmptɪv/

presumptive — adjective

  • presumptivepositive
  • more presumptivecomparative
  • most presumptivesuperlative

1. A presumptive fact, situation, or status is one that people accept as correct or

1.形容詞C1
釋義

A presumptive fact, situation, or status is one that people accept as correct or certain because there is strong evidence pointing to it, even though it has not been fully proved.

例句

The presumptive heir to the throne, Crown Prince Felix, began his public duties this week.

presumptive heir — most common collocation

After running tests on 200 patients, doctors gave a presumptive diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.

presumptive diagnosis — medical context

同義詞
  • presumed

    stronger implication of acting on the belief; 'presumptive' focuses on the evidence itself

  • probable

    less formal and more general; 'probable' does not carry the legal/formal register of 'presumptive'

  • assumed

    wider range of certainty; 'assumed' may be based on convention rather than evidence

反義詞
  • unlikely

    direct opposite of likelihood

  • doubtful

    emphasises lack of confidence in the conclusion

文法句型

presumptive + noun

用法筆記

Almost always used before a noun (attributive position), especially with 'heir', 'winner', 'diagnosis', or 'evidence'. Common in legal, medical, and political writing.

常見錯誤

❌He is presumptive the best candidate.
✅He is the presumptive best candidate.
💡'presumptive' is an adjective, not an adverb. Use 'presumably' instead: 'He is presumably the best candidate.'
❌The presumptive reason is that...
✅The presumed reason is that...
💡'presumptive' implies evidence-based inference; 'presumed' fits better for a simple guess.