concession

American  

[kuhn-sesh-uhn] / kənˈsɛʃ ən /

noun

concessions plural

1. the act of conceding or yielding, as a right, a privilege, or a point or fact in an argument.

   He made no concession to caution.

2. the thing or point yielded.

   Management offered a shorter workweek as a concession.

3. something conceded by a government or a controlling authority, as a grant of land, a privilege, or a franchise.

4. a space or privilege within certain premises for a subsidiary business or service.

   the refreshment concession at a movie theater.

5. Canadian. any of the usually sixteen divisions of a township, each division being 10 sq. mi. (26 sq. km) in area and containing thirty-two 200-acre lots.

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concession British  

/ kənˈsɛʃən /

noun

1. the act of yielding or conceding, as to a demand or argument

2. something conceded

3. a reduction in the usual price of a ticket granted to a special group of customers

   a student concession

4. any grant of rights, land, or property by a government, local authority, corporation, or individual

5. the right, esp an exclusive right, to market a particular product in a given area

6. 1. the right to maintain a subsidiary business on a lessor's premises

   2. the premises so granted or the business so maintained

   3. a free rental period for such premises

7. 1. a land subdivision in a township survey

   2. another name for concession road

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonconcession
  noun
• preconcession
  noun
• subconcession
  noun
• concessible
  adjective
• concessional
  adjective
• proconcession
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• concessions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of concession

First recorded in 1605–15; 1910–15 concession for def. 4; from Latin concēssiōn- (stem of concēssiō ), equivalent to concēss(us) (past participle of concēdere ”to concede ”) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

The noun concession comes in handy in negotiations — between countries, political parties, or even parents and their kids. Want a raise in your allowance? You may have to agree to do more chores as a concession before your parents will agree. Although a concession in an argument is the act of yielding or granting something, don't get confused and think that a concession stand is called that because the workers are granting you popcorn at the baseball stadium. Concessions at a ballpark or at another venue are called that because the stadium has granted the right to sell food to a certain provider. Chew on that the next time you're munching on peanuts at a game.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

concession concessions

DP World’s terminal project in Fujairah is expected to take 24 to 30 months to construct under a 50-year concession.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

Unlike the other Alamo Drafthouse locations, the dome will not operate as a dine-in theater, but will maintain its traditional concession experience.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026

Brito described the letter as a "concession" and "admission" by the BBC.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

The agreement comes as Panama complains its boats are suffering tighter controls in China, following the cancellation of a Hong Kong company's concession to operate two ports in the Panama Canal.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

Molly had been brainstorming potential content on an off day at the concession stand.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny

Tighter enforcement could redirect ore produced within the tin-metal producer’s concessions away from illegal collectors and competing smelters and back into the company’s formal supply chain, the analyst says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

The concessions come as Paramount Skydance already was facing the prospect of a lengthy moratorium.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

Most of Canada’s concessions haven’t required that Carney spend much political capital.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

Dairy farmers have also been known to stage protests - complete with tractors and cattle on Parliament Hill - when faced with possible concessions in trade talks.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Supporters assured them, however, that these partial and limited concessions only reflected the fading gasps of a dying institution.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

Related Words

• acknowledgment
• admission
• compromise
• deal
• grant
• permit
• privilege