English Reference
noun

admission

n.
US /ædˈmɪʃən/ UK /ɐdmˈɪʃən/ ad·mis·sion UK spelling admission's, admission's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    permission to enter a place like a school, a club, or a country.

    the process or fact of being allowed to enter a place, organization, or institution.

    Simple

    She was thrilled to receive her letter of admission to the university.

    In context

    The hospital's policy on emergency admission ensures that critical patients are seen by a specialist within minutes of arrival.

    Usage

    Often used with the preposition 'to'.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    a statement where you agree that something is true, especially something you are embarrassed about.

    a statement acknowledging the truth of something, often a mistake or a crime.

    Simple

    By his own admission, he was not prepared for the difficulty of the task.

    In context

    The defendant's admission of guilt led to a significantly reduced sentence during the final hearing.

    Usage

    Commonly follows the verb 'make' or appears in the phrase 'by your own admission'.

  3. 03 B1 Intermediate

    the amount of money you pay to enter a place like a cinema or museum.

    the fee charged for entry to a public place or event.

    Simple

    The museum offers free admission to students on Tuesday afternoons.

    In context

    The price of admission includes access to all permanent galleries as well as the temporary sculpture garden.

    Usage

    Often functions as a compound noun, such as 'admission price' or 'admission fee'.

  4. 04 C1 Advanced FormalTechnical Law

    a fact or statement that is accepted as evidence in a court of law.

    a voluntary acknowledgement made by a party of the existence of certain facts which are relevant to the adversary's cause.

    Simple

    The judge ruled that the suspect's earlier admission was allowed as evidence.

    In context

    The lawyer argued that the client's admission was obtained under duress and should therefore be inadmissible in a court of law.

    Usage

    Usually refers to statements made out of court that are later used as evidence.

The suit had called on WestJet to implement mandatory anti-harassment training for pilots, along with an admission of wrongdoing and an admission of a breach of employee contract.

The Guardian· 12 Aug 2026

Through peer workshops, students like Sarah and Azhari have become advocates in their own right, helping others navigate scholarship applications and university admissions.

UN News· 9 Aug 2026

Borrowed from Latin admissio, admissionis; compare French admission. See admit.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin admissio
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Common
Updated