permit

1 of 3

verb

per·​mit pər-ˈmit 

permitted; permitting

transitive verb

1

: to consent to expressly or formally

permit access to records

2

: to give leave : authorize

3

: to make possible

the design permits easy access

intransitive verb

: to give an opportunity : allow

if time permits

permittee

pər-ˌmi(t)-ˈtē 

ˌpər-mi(t)-

noun

permitter noun

permit

2 of 3

noun (1)

per·​mit ˈpər-ˌmit 

pər-ˈmit

1

: a written warrant or license granted by one having authority

a gun permit

2

: permission

permit

3 of 3

noun (2)

per·​mit ˈpər-ˌmit  pər-ˈmit 

: a pompano (Trachinotus falcatus) that is an important game fish of temperate to tropical waters of the western Atlantic

Synonyms of permit

Verb

• allow
• have

Examples of permit in a Sentence

Verb

The judge permitted the release of the prisoner.

Smoking is not permitted in the building.

When we arrived at customs we realized we had more than the permitted number of items.

He permitted himself one more cookie.

The new ramp permits easier access to the highway.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In design, engineering, pre-construction, and manufacturing, there are specs, there are permitting codes, there are ordinances, and there’s disconnect between the disciplines, so the context is incredibly complicated. —Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 6 Mar. 2026

The creditors had until April 9 to review the GST proposal, with all permitted to vote on the plan. —Adam Crafton, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026

Noun

There was also the sound of a generator, which would require a permit, a check-in table, a metal detector and a temporary wall with branding, Sterling said. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026

This White House has also gone out of its way to slow or halt the development of solar and wind power, including multiple attempts to yank permits for offshore wind projects that have all been rejected by courts. —Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 5 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English permitten, from Latin permittere to let through, permit, from per- through + mittere to let go, send

Noun (2)

perhaps by folk etymology from Spanish palometa, a kind of pompano, from diminutive of paloma dove, from Latin palumba, palumbes — more at palomino

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1884, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing permit

• learner's permit
• work permit

Rhymes for permit

• acquit
• admit
• amrit
• armpit
• backlit
• befit
• cockpit
• commit
• dalit
• dendrite
• emit
• illite

Kids Definition

permit

1 of 2 verb

per·​mit pər-ˈmit 

permitted; permitting

1

: to consent to : give permission : allow

2

: to make possible : give an opportunity

if time permits

permitter noun

permit

2 of 2 noun

per·​mit ˈpər-ˌmit 

pər-ˈmit

: a written statement of permission given by one having authority : license

Legal Definition

permit

noun

per·​mit ˈpər-ˌmit, pər-ˈmit 

: a written warrant or license granted by one having authority

a building permit