admission vs admittance

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   A comparison of two nouns: 'admission' (entry, fee, confession) and 'admittance' (formal permission to enter).

   Grammar: Used when discussing the difference between the two words; 'vs' stands for 'versus'.

   Patterns

   • admission vs admittance
   • the difference between admission and admittance

   Learners often ask about admission vs admittance when writing formal letters.

   In admission vs admittance, the first word is much more common in everyday English.

   The sign said 'No admittance', which is a formal way to say you cannot enter.

2. 2noununcountable

   The act of allowing someone to enter a place, or the fee paid to enter.

   Grammar: Often used with 'to': admission to the museum. Can also be countable when referring to a specific entry fee.

   Patterns

   • admission to something
   • admission fee
   • gain admission to

   Admission to the concert is free for children under five.

   The university's admission process is highly competitive.

   He was refused admission to the club because he wasn't a member.

3. 3nouncountable

   A statement in which you admit that you did something wrong or that something is true.

   Grammar: Often followed by 'of' or 'that': an admission of guilt.

   Patterns

   • admission of guilt
   • admission that
   • make an admission

   Her admission of guilt surprised everyone in the courtroom.

   He made a frank admission that he had made a mistake.

   The politician's admission about the scandal damaged his reputation.

4. 4noununcountableformal

   Permission to enter a place; a more formal word than 'admission'.

   Grammar: Often used in fixed phrases like 'no admittance' or 'gain admittance to'.

   Patterns

   • no admittance
   • gain admittance to
   • refuse admittance

   The sign on the door read 'No admittance except for staff'.

   Without a ticket, he could not gain admittance to the theater.

   The guard refused admittance to anyone without identification.

Common combinations

admission fee

The admission fee for the exhibition is ten dollars.

gain admittance

She had to show her pass to gain admittance to the building.

no admittance

There was a 'no admittance' sign on the factory gate.

admission of guilt

His admission of guilt was recorded by the police.

Synonyms and how they differ

entry

A general word for the act of entering; 'admission' often implies official permission or a fee, while 'entry' is broader.

entrance

Can mean the act of entering or the door itself; 'admission' usually refers to the permission or fee.

Opposites

Word family

admit verb

To allow someone to enter, or to agree that something is true.

admissible adjective

Allowed to be used in a court of law or accepted as valid.

Commonly confused: admission vs admittance or admittance?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “admission vs admittance”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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