permission
Americannoun
-
authorization granted to do something; formal consent.
to ask permission to leave the room.
-
the act of permitting.
noun
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”; see permit 1) + -iō -ion
Explanation
If you give someone approval to do something, you are giving them permission. Think of the permission slip your parents sign to let you go on a field trip––they are approving your going on the trip. Permission has the same Latin root word as permit. They both come from permittere, which means to allow to go or pass through. Permission can be given in writing, it can be given orally, or it can be assumed or unspoken––by passing the box of cookies around the room you're giving everyone tacit permission to help themselves.
Vocabulary lists containing permission
Send a Message: Mit and Miss
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"The War of the Wall" by Toni Cade Bambara
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The Titan's Curse
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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.
A further hearing on the matter is scheduled for May 22, when environmental groups will ask Geck to find Sable in contempt of court for starting up the pipelines without required state permission.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2026
After that interaction, Enchassi called his district manager and got permission to take the rest of the day off.
From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026
Legal expert Ulrich Roux told the BBC that to challenge his conviction, he would first have to seek permission from the Eastern Cape high court.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
Details in US court documents allege that Duggan did not ask for permission from the US government to provide military training to Chinese forces.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
“Your parents all signed permission slips for the full year’s work,” Ms. Freeman explained.
From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste
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.
