submission

noun

sub·​mis·​sion səb-ˈmi-shən 

1

a

: a legal agreement to submit to the decision of arbitrators

b

: an act of submitting something (as for consideration or inspection)

also : something submitted (such as a manuscript)

2

: the condition of being submissive, humble, or compliant

3

: an act of submitting to the authority or control of another

Synonyms of submission

• obedience
• compliance

Examples of submission in a Sentence

I'm preparing the results of my study for submission to a medical journal.

the electronic submission of tax returns

The deadline for submissions is January 31st.

We cannot accept submissions longer than 2,000 words.

Over 5,000 submissions were received.

a religion that preaches submission to God's will

The prisoners were beaten into submission.

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s one of the basic rules outlined in the New York Times Crossword submission guidelines and a convention followed by just about every major crossword outlet. — New York Times, 24 Sep. 2026

The successful submission offers a proven path forward for the wider continent. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2026

This deadline will not be extended, and tardy submissions will not be considered. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026

The riotous 640-page doorstopper grapples with homophobia then and now, the lingering specter of colonialism, the tumult of the AIDS crisis, and frameworks of power that demand dominance or submission. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin submission-, submissio act of lowering, from submittere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for submission

• addition
• admission
• ambition
• attrition
• audition
• clinician
• cognition
• coition
• commission
• condition
• contrition
• dentition

Kids Definition

submission

noun

sub·​mis·​sion səb-ˈmish-ən 

1

: an act of submitting something (as for consideration or comment)

also : something submitted (as a musical composition)

2

: the condition of being humble or obedient

3

: an act of submitting to the authority or control of another

Medical Definition

submission

noun

sub·​mis·​sion səb-ˈmish-ən 

: the condition of being submissive

Legal Definition

submission

noun

sub·​mis·​sion səb-ˈmi-shən 

1

: an agreement to submit a dispute to and abide by the decision of an arbitrator

an award falls within the general rule that acts of arbitrators must…be coextensive with the submission

—Albert v. Goor, 218 P.2d 736 (1950)

2

: an act of submitting something

upon submission of a properly completed memorandum

—J. H. Friedenthal et al.

also : something submitted

3

: an act of submitting to the authority or control of another