permission

A2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /pəɹˈmɪʃ.ən/ UK /pəˈmɪʃ.ən/ See IPA manual

Freq #1855

Meanings

1

noun
The act of allowing someone to do something.

We asked the teacher for permission to leave early.
2

noun
Official or formal approval to do something.

You need written permission to build on this land.
3

noun
A computer setting that controls who can open or change a file.

I changed the file's permissions so only I could edit it.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the act of allowing someone... consent allowance

2 noun · official or formal approval... authorisation license

More authority authorization clearance leave mandate permit warrant

Opposites

prohibition sanction

Word family

Forms permissions

Derived forms nonpermissionpermissiblepermissioningpermissionlesspermissive

Related forms approval assent concession jurisdiction permit privilege

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

grant permission
to officially allow someone to do something

Verb + noun

Proverbs (1)

See all

It's easier to get forgiveness than permission

Etymology

From Middle English permision, permission, permissioun, permyssion, from Middle French permission, from Latin permissiō. Equivalent to permit + -ion. Mostly replaced native English leave, from Old English lēaf (“permission”).

permision Middle English permission Middle French permissiō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Register & Style

External links

# permission

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /pəɹˈmɪʃ.ən/
**IPA (UK):** /pəˈmɪʃ.ən/
**Frequency rank:** 1855

## Meanings
1. The act of allowing someone to do something.
2. Official or formal approval to do something.
3. A computer setting that controls who can open or change a file.

## Examples
- We asked the teacher for permission to leave early.
- You need written permission to build on this land.
- I changed the file's permissions so only I could edit it.

## Synonyms
- allowance
- authority
- authorization
- clearance
- consent
- leave
- license
- mandate
- permit
- warrant

## Antonyms
- prohibition
- sanction

## Derived Forms
- nonpermission
- permissible
- permissioning
- permissionless
- permissive

## Related Forms
- approval
- assent
- concession
- jurisdiction
- permit
- privilege

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: permision
- Root: permission
- Root: permissiō

## Etymology
From Middle English permision, permission, permissioun, permyssion, from Middle French permission, from Latin permissiō. Equivalent to permit + -ion. Mostly replaced native English leave, from Old English lēaf (“permission”).

## AI Etymology
Permission comes from Middle English permision, permission, permissioun, permyssion, from Middle French permission, from Latin permissiō. Equivalent to permit + -ion. Mostly replaced native English leave, from Old English lēaf (“permission”). In present-day English it covers the act of allowing someone to do something, official or formal approval to do something, and a computer setting that controls who can open or change a file. The wider family includes derived forms such as nonpermission, permissible, permissioning, permissionless, permissive and related forms such as approval, assent, concession, jurisdiction.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Register & Style

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