Meaning & use
concession
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Meanings
nouncountable
Something you agree to give up or allow, especially to settle an argument or reach a deal.
Grammar: Often used with make: make a concession.
Patterns
- a concession to someone
- make concessions on something
The union made a concession on working hours.
Neither side was willing to make concessions.
As a concession, she agreed to start later.
nouncountableBritish
A reduced price or special allowance for particular groups, such as students or retired people.
Grammar: Often plural; a British usage: ticket concessions.
Patterns
- concessions for someone
The museum offers concessions for students.
Concession tickets cost half the normal price.
nouncountableAmerican
A small stand or shop, for example at a stadium or theater, that sells snacks and drinks.
Grammar: Often in concession stand, mainly American.
Patterns
- concession stand
We bought popcorn at the concession stand.
The park runs several concessions during the summer.
nouncountablebusiness
The right to run a business or take resources from land, given by a government or owner.
Grammar: Takes a: a mining concession.
Patterns
- a concession to do something
The company won a concession to operate the toll road.
The oil concession covers a large area.
Word forms
| plural | concessions |
|---|
Common combinations
- make a concession
- The government made a concession to protesters.
- major concession
- Dropping the demand was a major concession.
- concession stand
- The concession stand sells hot dogs.
- in concession to
- In concession to her age, they chose an easy hike.
- win a concession
- The workers won a concession on pay.
Synonyms and how they differ
- compromise
- Means a deal where both sides give something up, while a concession is what one side gives.
- allowance
- Is a permitted amount or special consideration, not necessarily given in a dispute.
- discount
- Is a price reduction, narrower than concession.
- surrender
- Is stronger and means giving up completely.
Opposites
Word family
- concede verb
- to admit something or give something up
- concessionary adjective
- relating to a reduced price or special allowance
Commonly confused: concession or concession stand?
concession vs concession stand
This is American for a snack booth; the British might say kiosk.
Practice
Which sentence uses concession to mean something given up in a negotiation?
Choose one answer.
Only the third sentence shows a concession as something granted to settle a dispute. The others show a snack stand, a license and a reduced fare.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “concession”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.