# concession

/kənˈsɛʃən/ (US) · /kənsˈɛʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/concession
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. giving in

noun · CEFR B2

something you allow or give up to end an argument or reach an agreement.

For teachers: the act of yielding a point or a right in response to a demand or to facilitate a compromise.

- The company made a major concession on pay to avoid a strike.
- The management's primary concession involved a commitment to flexible working hours, which finally broke the deadlock in the contract negotiations.

Usage: Often used with the verb 'make'.

### 2. discounted price

noun · CEFR B1 · British English

a lower price for a ticket or service, usually for students, children, or older people.

For teachers: a reduction in the price of a service or ticket granted to a specific group of people.

- The museum offers a concession for students and seniors.
- Travelers over sixty-five are eligible for a significant concession on off-peak rail fares across the national network.

Teaching tip: In American English, 'discount' is more common for this meaning; 'concession' in the US usually refers to food stands.

### 3. commercial stand

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

a small business or stand that sells things inside a larger place like a stadium or cinema.

For teachers: a commercial operation or franchise located within the premises of a larger entity, such as a stadium, park, or airport.

- We bought some popcorn at the concession stand before the movie started.
- The stadium's revenue increased significantly after they upgraded the food concessions to include local gourmet vendors.

Usage: Often used in the compound 'concession stand'.

### 4. granted right

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a special right given by a government to use land or start a business.

For teachers: a grant of land or a right to use property for a specific purpose, typically awarded by a government or local authority.

- The government granted a mining concession to the international firm.
- The logging concession was revoked after environmental inspectors discovered that the company had exceeded its permitted harvest boundaries.

Usage: Commonly used in international law and resource management contexts.

### 5. to grant a right

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

to give or approve something through a formal agreement.

For teachers: to grant or approve a right or property by means of a formal concession agreement.

- The territory was concessioned to the railway company for ninety-nine years.
- The municipal council voted to concession the operation of the public water system to a private utility provider for the next decade.

## Examples

- The company made a small concession on pay to avoid a strike.
- After hours of intense debate, the management offered a concession regarding flexible working hours to satisfy the union representatives.
- The treaty was finally signed after both nations agreed to significant territorial concessions, though critics argued that these compromises undermined long-term regional stability.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.