permit
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to make something possible because of the situation or circumstances.
v.to admit of or provide an opportunity for something to occur. Often used in the phrase 'weather permitting'.
Simple“We will have the party in the garden tomorrow, weather permitting.”
In context“The design of the building permits easy access for wheelchairs while maintaining the historical integrity of the original facade.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
n.an official piece of paper or a document that allows you to do something, like park your car or build a house.
n.a formal document or certificate issued by an authority that grants the holder permission to perform a specific act.
Simple“You need a special permit to park your car in this part of the city.”
In context“The construction firm had to wait three months for the local council to approve their building permit before work could begin on the site.”
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a type of large fish that lives in the ocean and is popular for sport fishing.
n.a large carangid fish, Trachinotus falcatus, found in the western Atlantic Ocean and prized as a game fish.
Simple“The fisherman spent all day trying to catch a permit in the shallow water.”
In context“Anglers often travel to the Florida Keys specifically to test their skills against the elusive and powerful permit.”
permit vs permission — Permission is the abstract concept of being allowed to do something, while a permit is the physical document or specific legal authorization.
Usage approach permit · permit analysis
“Brazil's Pix, another hugely successful instant-payment system, is free for individuals but permits low-cost charges for businesses.”
“The beach is also one of the few in Wales that permits parking.”
From Middle English permitten, borrowed from Middle French permettre, from Latin permittō (“give up, allow”), from per (“through”) + mittō (“send”).
An irregular borrowing from Spanish palometa, probably from a Doric variant of Ancient Greek πηλαμύς (pēlamús, “young tuna”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.