Word
dispensation
Phoneticsdis·pen·sa·tion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌdɪspənˈseɪʃən/
UK/dɪspɪnsˈeɪʃən/
Definition
n. a special permission to do something that is usually not allowed. It is like a rule that is temporarily changed for a specific person or situation.
n. a special permission or exemption from a rule, law, or requirement. Often used in formal or religious contexts to describe a temporary change in standard practice.
Examples
“The manager gave me a dispensation to leave early.”
“The university granted a dispensation for the student to take the exam at a different time due to a family emergency.”
“In many religious traditions, a dispensation allows a priest to perform a marriage ceremony for two people who would otherwise be considered related by blood.”
Examples
simple
“The manager gave me a dispensation to leave early.”
contextual
“The university granted a dispensation for the student to take the exam at a different time due to a family emergency.”
complex
“In many religious traditions, a dispensation allows a priest to perform a marriage ceremony for two people who would otherwise be considered related by blood.”
Real-World Examples
“Government decrees to grant dispensations to manufacturers of Abondance, Beaufort and Comté cheeses - which come from mountains in eastern France - appeared on Wednesday.” “In some of the darker recesses of the internet, meanwhile, enthusiasts for the idea of Anglo-America as the home of the white race make it plain that the old dispensation suited them better.” Etymology
From Old French despensacion, from Latin dispensātiō. By surface analysis, dispens(e) + -ation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/dispensation