Permission Definition & Meaning

American

British

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms permission American [per-mish-uhn] / pərˈmɪʃ ən /

noun

1. authorization granted to do something; formal consent.

   to ask permission to leave the room.

   Synonyms: sanction , leave Antonyms: refusal , restraint

2. the act of permitting.

permission British / pəˈmɪʃən /

noun

1. authorization to do something

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

• nonpermission noun
• permissioned adjective
• permissory adjective
• self-permission noun

Etymology

Origin of permission

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin permissiōn-, stem of permissiō “a yielding, giving leave,” from permiss(us) “given leave” (past participle of permittere “to let go through, give leave”; permit 1 ) + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

For the latest study, the team examined samples from normal mice and compared them with living cortical brain tissue obtained, with permission, from six people undergoing epilepsy surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

From Science Daily

But just over 24 hours later a ORR spokesperson said after listening to feedback it would give Network Rail and Avanti permission to continue running the service with passengers.

From BBC

The guideline calls on countries and companies to expand access, through strategies such as voluntary licensing - where a pharmaceutical company grants permission for others to make affordable non-brand versions of its patented drug.

From BBC

The theatre said it was "thanks to the efforts of a local resident" that Sky had given them permission to show the movie.

From BBC

Granted permission to take the bottle, he grabbed it, rose from his seat and walked out the back of the interview tent, the offseason finally having arrived.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• acceptance
• acknowledgment
• admission
• agreement
• approval
• concession
• dispensation
• endorsement
• license
• permit
• privilege
• recognition
• warrant

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.