remission

American  

[ri-mish-uhn] / rɪˈmɪʃ ən /

noun

1. the act of remitting.

2. pardon; forgiveness, as of sins or offenses.

   Synonyms:

   absolution

   Antonyms:

   censure, blame

3. abatement or diminution, as of diligence, labor, intensity, etc.

   Synonyms:

   relaxation

   Antonyms:

   intensification

4. the relinquishment of a payment, obligation, etc.

   Synonyms:

   release

5. Medicine/Medical.

   1. a temporary or permanent decrease or subsidence of manifestations of a disease.

   2. a period during which such a decrease or subsidence occurs.

      The patient's leukemia was in remission.

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remission British  

/ rɪˈmɪʃən, rɪˈmɪtəl /

noun

1. the act of remitting or state of being remitted

2. a reduction of the term of a sentence of imprisonment, as for good conduct

   he got three years' remission

3. forgiveness for sin

4. discharge or release from penalty, obligation, etc

5. lessening of intensity; abatement, as in the severity of symptoms of a disease

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remission Scientific  

/ rĭ-mĭsh′ən /

1. Abatement or subsiding of the symptoms of a disease.

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remission Cultural  

1. A period in the course of a disease when symptoms become less severe.

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Usage

What is remission? In medicine, remission refers to a temporary or permanent decrease in the symptoms of a disease. Remission also refers to a release from a penalty or obligation, as in Fang was relieved when the bank gave him remission for the late fees on his car loan. Remission can also refer to the forgiveness of sin, as in The remission of sin is granted by the Church. Example: After four years of fighting cancer, I finally entered remission last week.

Discover More

The term remission is often used in speaking of sufferers from leukemia or other cancers whose symptoms lessen or disappear. In such a case, the disease is said to be “in remission.” The period of remission may last only briefly or may extend over several months or years.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• remissive
  adjective
• nonremission
  noun
• remissively
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of remission

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin remissiōn-, stem of remissiō; equivalent to remiss + -ion

Explanation

Remission refers to a stage of lesser intensity, when something subsides or improves. Remission is usually a good thing — like when your cancer is in remission, it means that it is manageable and not getting any worse. Remission comes from the Latin remissionem, meaning "relaxation; a sending back." If something difficult lets up, you'll be able to relax a little. For example, if you are being pelted non-stop during a dodgeball game, you'd hope for a remission so you'd have a minute to take a breath and find your glasses. Another meaning of the noun remission is a payment. Your college tuition remission must be taken care of before you start classes.

Example Sentences

While waiting to find an alternative donor from the register, Caitlin achieved remission in May 2025 after two months of chemotherapy.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

She went into remission after chemotherapy and later had a stem cell transplant, but was told in May the cancer had returned and that treatment options in the UK were unlikely to be curative.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

Researchers reported that 54% of participants taking tocilizumab achieved depression remission, compared to 31% in the placebo group.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2026

She announced in January 2025 that she was in remission from cancer, and has been gradually returning to public royal duties.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

I was surprised that Augustus was Wish- eligible, what with being still in school and a year into remission.

From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

Related Words

• absolution
• amnesty
• exemption
• exoneration
• forgiveness
• reprieve