concession

American  

[kuhn-sesh-uhn] / kənˈsɛʃ ən /

noun

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

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

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

Photos posted on social media show concession stand signs stating that free refills were available only on the day of purchase.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

The Duke of Norfolk, Edward Fitzalan-Howard, and Lord Carrington won the concession after raising concerns privately about the need to keep their role in organising state occasions.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

D’Arcy got an exclusive, 60-year concession to “exploit, develop, render suitable for trade, carry away and sell” Iran’s vast southern oil fields.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

A witty theater owner would match the mood by selling torches and pitchforks at the concession stand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West may indeed have been an “incongruity,” as the directors had declared in rejecting his request for a concession within Jackson Park, but the citizens of Chicago had fallen in love.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

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