permission

noun

per·​mis·​sion pər-ˈmi-shən 

1

: the act of permitting

2

: formal consent : authorization

Synonyms of permission

• consent
• authorization
• granting
• permit
• license

Examples of permission in a Sentence

They got permission from the city to build an apartment complex.

The teacher gave me her permission to go home early.

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1971, for instance, eighty-six per cent of English elementary-school children had permission to walk home from school alone; that number dropped to thirty-five per cent in 1990, and to twenty-five per cent in 2010. — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2026

Travel to Tibet requires special government permission for all foreigners, especially journalists, even if they are fully accredited to work in China. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026

The girlfriend gave authorities permission to search the truck for Adams’ cellphone, and one of the investigators found a backpack in the bed. — Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Sep. 2026

Her words, actions, and example gave people permission to be their truest selves. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin permission-, permissio, from permittere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for permission

• addition
• admission
• ambition
• attrition
• audition
• clinician
• cognition
• coition
• commission
• condition
• contrition
• dentition

Kids Definition

permission

noun

per·​mis·​sion pər-ˈmish-ən 

1

: the act of permitting

2

: the consent of a person in authority

has permission to leave