Meaning & use
permission
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountable
The act of allowing someone to do something; official or personal approval.
Grammar: Uncountable in most uses: say 'ask permission', not 'ask a permission'. Can be countable in fixed phrases like 'written permissions'.
Patterns
- ask for permission
- give permission
- get permission
- permission to do something
You need permission to park here.
She asked for permission to leave early.
The teacher gave permission for the class to go outside.
nouncountable
An official document or statement that allows you to do something.
Grammar: Countable when referring to a specific document or formal authorization: a permission, permissions.
Patterns
- a permission
- written permission
- official permission
You must obtain written permission from the owner.
The city issued a special permission for the event.
All permissions must be submitted before the deadline.
Word forms
| plural | permissions |
|---|
Common combinations
- ask for permission
- He asked for permission to use the car.
- give permission
- The manager gave permission for the staff to work from home.
- without permission
- You cannot enter without permission.
- written permission
- Written permission is required for all field trips.
- permission slip
- Please sign the permission slip and return it tomorrow.
Synonyms and how they differ
- authorization
- More formal and often implies official power to allow something; 'permission' is more general and personal.
- consent
- Often used for agreement to something personal or medical; it stresses willingness rather than just allowing.
- approval
- Focuses on agreement or acceptance, often after review; 'permission' is about being allowed to act.
- leave
- In military or formal contexts, official permission to be absent; not a general synonym.
Opposites
Word family
- permit verb
- To allow something to happen.
- permit noun
- An official document that allows you to do something.
- permissible adjective
- Allowed by rules or law.
- permissive adjective
- Allowing a lot of freedom, sometimes too much.
Commonly confused: permission or permit?
permission vs permit
As a noun, 'permit' is a countable document (a permit), while 'permission' is usually uncountable and refers to the act of allowing.
Practice
Which sentence is correct?
Choose one answer.
'Permission' is uncountable in this sense, so no article is used: 'ask permission'. The other options incorrectly treat it as countable.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “permission”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.