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

Iran has repeatedly warned vessels against passing through the strait without Tehran's permission. — Arkansas Online, 31 Oct. 2026

Brody and his friend, who was driving, had taken the friend’s mother’s car without permission. — Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026

When her husband filed for divorce in 2021, a Spanish court barred either parent from taking their child out of the country without the other’s permission. — Brianna Keilar, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026

Pedro gave me permission, with his effervescence and his sadness and his ability to mask his sadness, to go after the fairy tale. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 30 Oct. 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