Word
permit
Phoneticsper·mit, stress on the first syllable
/ˈpɝˌmɪt/
Definitions
01to allow
B1 · Intermediate
v. to let someone do something or to allow an action to happen.
v. to give permission for or to allow something to occur. Often used in formal contexts or passive constructions.
日本語:許可する※
“The security guard will not permit you to enter the building without an ID card.”
“The revised safety regulations do not permit the storage of flammable materials within fifty feet of the primary laboratory entrance.”
Usage
Often follows the pattern 'permit someone to do something' or 'permit something'.
02to make possible
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make something possible because of the conditions or the situation.
v. to allow for or provide an opportunity for something to happen, depending on circumstances.
日本語:許す※
“We will have the party in the garden on Saturday, weather permitting.”
“We shall proceed with the outdoor commencement ceremony if the atmospheric conditions permit.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'weather permitting' or as an intransitive verb.
03official document
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Law
n. an official piece of paper or a document that gives you the right to do something.
n. a formal document or certificate giving official permission to do something, such as building or parking.
日本語:免許証※
“You need a special parking permit to leave your car on this street overnight.”
“The contractor refused to begin the renovation until the city council issued the necessary structural permits.”
Usage
Note the stress change: the noun is stressed on the first syllable (PER-mit), while the verb is stressed on the second (per-MIT).
Pitfall
I need to permit for my car.
I need a permit for my car.
When you mean the document, 'permit' is a countable noun and needs an article like 'a' or 'the'.
Synonyms
04a type of fish
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical
n. a large silver fish that lives in the ocean, often caught for sport.
n. a species of marine fish (Trachinotus falcatus) in the jack family, valued as a game fish.
“The fisherman spent all morning trying to catch a permit in the shallow water.”
“Anglers prize the permit for its strength and wariness, making it one of the most challenging species to catch on a fly rod.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “permit” in context.
Noun
01. approach permit
“The construction crew had to secure an approach permit before building the new driveway onto the main road.”
noun + noun
Confusables
Permission is the abstract concept of being allowed to do something, while a permit is the physical document or specific legal authorization.
RememberPermission is the 'yes'; a permit is the paper.
Real-World Examples
“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.” Etymology
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.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/permit
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0