permission

noun

per·​mis·​sion pər-ˈmi-shən How to pronounce permission (audio)
1
: the act of permitting
2
: formal consent : authorization

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The General Assembly has given Mecklenburg County permission to put a referendum on the ballot to raise the county’s sales tax to fund road, rail and bus projects. Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025 Run with permission of the author, courtesy of Bloomsbury Continuum, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025 Don’t ask for permission, beg for forgiveness. Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2025 In the Tuesday statement, Nexperia also said the government’s intervention, prohibiting Nexperia from relocating company parts and making other decisions without the government’s permission, will last for a period of a year. John Liu, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for permission

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of permission was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Permission.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permission. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

permission

noun
per·​mis·​sion pər-ˈmish-ən How to pronounce permission (audio)
1
: the act of permitting
2
: the consent of a person in authority
has permission to leave

More from Merriam-Webster on permission

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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