Permission: Definition, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：official consent (permission)

permission 🔊

/pərˈmɪʃən/

When someone in charge says ‘yes, you can do that’ or ‘yes, you can go there’.

Student receiving permission from teacher in classroom

official consent 🔊

➕

/əˈfɪʃl kənˈsent/

Approval or authorization given by someone in authority to do something.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'permissio' (per- 'through' + mittere 'send'), meaning 'to let through'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a 'mission' that you're allowed to go on—you need 'per-mission' (permission) from your boss to start.

📖 Example

The musician needed permission from the app company to use their songs in his online video. 🔊 The musician needed official consent from the app company to use their songs in his online video.

🔗 Collocations

ask for permission – Request official consent from someone in authority

grant permission – Give official consent to someone

without permission – Lacking official consent; unauthorized

🔄 Synonyms

authorization (n.) – Official power or right to act

consent (n.) – Agreement to allow something to happen

approval (n.) – Favorable opinion or official acceptance

🚫 Antonyms

prohibition (n.) – Official ban on something

denial (n.) – Refusal to grant permission

refusal (n.) – Act of saying no to a request

🌱 Derivatives

permissive (adj.) – Allowing freedom of choice or action

permissibly (adv.) – In a way that is allowed

permissionless (adj.) – Not requiring permission (often in tech)

📖 Cultural Story

The word entered English via Old French 'permission' in the 15th century, originally a legal term for official consent. Today it is ubiquitous in business, computing (file permissions), and everyday requests.