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.
Before they could be disposed of, Lodge took the remains without the knowledge or permission of Harvard, the donor of the cadavers or the donor's family, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 24 May 2025 Shadow on projects that excite you (with your manager’s permission). Dilan Gomih, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025 The lawsuit sought to block the company from reopening its shuttered detention center on the outskirts of town without first requesting and receiving permission from local officials. Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 23 May 2025 Marasco's lawsuit alleges Swift and her collaborators used Marasco's poetry without permission. Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 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 28 May. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!