plural admissions
1
: the act of admitting or allowing something
the admission of evidence in a court of law
2
: a statement or action by which someone admits a weakness, fault, etc.
His statement was interpreted as an admission of failure/weakness.
an admission of error/defeat
her admission of guilt = her admission that she was guilty
By his own admission, he is a terrible cook. [=he admits that he is a terrible cook]
3
a
: the right or permission to enter a place
He tried to get into the theater but was refused admission. [=he was not allowed to enter]
b
: the right or permission to join a club, group, etc.
They opposed the admission of women into/to the club.
She was unable to gain admission into/to the club. = She was denied admission into/to the club.
c
: the act or process of accepting a patient in a hospital for treatment
He died several hours after admission to the hospital. [=after being admitted to the hospital]
Her injuries were serious enough to require hospital admission.
The patient was unconscious on (his) admission to the hospital. [=when he was admitted to the hospital]
a large number of hospital admissions
d
: the act or process of accepting someone as a student at a school
The school's standards of admission are high.
He submitted an application for admission to the school.
college/university admissions
The school has a policy of open admissions. [=a policy of accepting all students who want to go to the school]
—often used before another nounan admission(s) exam
an admissions officer [=an official at a school who is in charge of admitting students]
4
: the cost of entering a theater, sports stadium, museum, etc.
Admission (to the museum) is free on Tuesdays.
A movie will be shown in the auditorium tomorrow night. Admission: $5 for adults, $2 for children.
The museum offers reduced admission for young children.
Her performance by itself was worth the price of admission.
Reduced admissions are available for young children.
—often used before another nounan admission fee/charge
Cite this Entry
“Admission.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/admission. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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