permission

noun

per·​mis·​sion pər-ˈmi-shən 

1

: the act of permitting

2

: formal consent : authorization

Synonyms

• allowance
• authorization
• clearance
• concurrence
• consent
• granting
• green light
• leave
• license
• licence
• sanction
• sufferance
• warrant

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

Now, Attorney General Pam Bondi has rescinded the Garland policy — which was widely considered a win for the protection of the free press — and granted permission to federal investigators to once again pursue communications from journalists during government leak investigations. —Jade Walker, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2025

Closing off access to beaches in the area has required SpaceX to inform and attain permission from authorities in Cameron County, the southernmost county in Texas. —Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 29 Apr. 2025

The access she was given inside the maximum security facility included permission to screen the film for the inmates. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 29 Apr. 2025

In the face of mounting attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across corporate America, a new generation of Black millennial founders is refusing to wait for permission to innovate. —Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

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