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

When using Skills on pages with sensitive information, such as calendar or email, the feature will ask for your permission before proceeding. —Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 15 Apr. 2026

Because my brother asked me for permission to ask his girlfriend to marry him during our wedding weekend. —R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2026

The settlement stems from a lawsuit filed in 2020 alleging that Google’s Android operating system caused Android mobile devices to transfer information to Google without users’ permission. —Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026

Making it onto the White House grounds alone requires obtaining prior permission and passing through security, while accessing the Oval Office — not to mention getting so close to the president — would have been impossible without additional screenings and background checks. —Will Weissert, Fortune, 14 Apr. 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