remission

[ri-mish-uhn]

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.

remission

/ 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

remission

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

remission

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

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

• nonremission noun
• remissively adverb
• remissive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of remission¹

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

Example Sentences

One-third of melanoma patients who failed to improve on other immunotherapies experienced remission on one of these experimental treatments by Replimune.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She spoke of her relief at completing her course of chemotherapy in September 2024, and revealed this year in January that she is in remission from cancer.

Read more on BBC

"Our mission is to deliver cancer-fighting medications into the bladder that will offer lasting remission from cancer, and it looks like we are well on our way toward that goal."

Read more on Science Daily

If it’s a first episode, doctors will typically recommend tapering off an antidepressant after six to 12 months from remission of symptoms.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The Princess of Wales revealed she was in remission from cancer in January.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.