remit

American  

[ri-mit, ree-mit] / rɪˈmɪt, ˈri mɪt /

verb (used with object)

remitted, remitting

1. to transmit or send (money, a check, etc.) to a person or place, usually in payment.

   Synonyms:

   forward

   Antonyms:

   retain

2. to refrain from inflicting or enforcing, as a punishment, sentence, etc.

3. to refrain from exacting, as a payment or service.

4. to pardon or forgive (a sin, offense, etc.).

   Synonyms:

   overlook, excuse

   Antonyms:

   condemn

5. to slacken; abate; relax.

   to remit watchfulness.

   Synonyms:

   diminish

   Antonyms:

   increase

6. to give back.

   to remit an overpayment.

   Synonyms:

   restore, return

7. Law. to send back (a case) to an inferior court for further action.

8. to put back into a previous position or condition.

9. to put off; postpone; defer.

10. Obsolete. to set free; release.

11. Obsolete. to send back to prison or custody.

12. Obsolete. to give up; surrender.

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verb (used without object)

remitted, remitting

1. to transmit money, a check, etc., as in payment.

2. to abate for a time or at intervals, as a fever.

3. to slacken; abate.

noun

1. Law. a transfer of the record of an action from one tribunal to another, particularly from an appellate court to the court of original jurisdiction.

2. something remitted, as for further deliberation or action.

3. the act of remitting.

4. Chiefly British. the area of authority of a person or group.

remit British  

verb

1. (also intr) to send (money, payment, etc), as for goods or service, esp by post

2. law (esp of an appeal court) to send back (a case or proceeding) to an inferior court for further consideration or action

3. to cancel or refrain from exacting (a penalty or punishment)

4. (also intr) to relax (pace, intensity, etc) or (of pace or the like) to slacken or abate

5. to postpone; defer

6. archaic to pardon or forgive (crime, sins, etc)

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noun

1. the area of authority or responsibility of an individual or a group

   by taking that action, the committee has exceeded its remit

2. law the transfer of a case from one court or jurisdiction to another, esp from an appeal court to an inferior tribunal

3. the act of remitting

4. something remitted

5. a proposal from a branch of an organization put forward for discussion at the annual general meeting

Other Word Forms

• nonremittable adjective
• nonremittably adverb
• preremit verb (used with object)
• remittable adjective
• unremittable adjective

Etymology

Origin of remit

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English remitten, from Latin remittere “to send back, let go back, concede, allow,” equivalent to re- “again; back” + mittere “to send”; see re-

Explanation

If you send your client a bill for your consulting services, be sure to include your address so he knows where to remit the payment. Remit means send back, and it has many uses. If you remit payment, you send it back to the person you owe it to. If you’ve been in prison for five years of a seven-year sentence but you’ve been on good behavior, a judge might remit the remainder of your sentence and let you go free.

Example Sentences

U.S. insurers are regulated by state commissioners, whose remit also includes home and health policies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

The BBC asked the Care Inspectorate if it would support moves to extend its remit to include financial conduct.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

Also in his remit is the Resolution Copper project in Arizona, that is led by partner Rio Tinto and this week completed a land swap needed for development to progress.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

Asad Ayaz, who is chief marketing and brand officer, has an influential remit across Disney’s various business segments.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

The remit was another harsh fact of life.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

Related Words

• defer