Word
remission
Phoneticsre·mis·sion, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹiˈmɪʃən/
UK/ɹɪmˈɪʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a period of time when a serious illness gets better or the symptoms disappear. It can also mean a reduction in a prison sentence or a debt.
n. a temporary or permanent diminution or disappearance of the symptoms of a chronic or malignant disease; also refers to the formal cancellation or reduction of a debt, penalty, or prison sentence.
Examples
“The doctor says her cancer is now in remission.”
“After months of intensive chemotherapy, the patient was relieved to hear that his leukemia had finally gone into complete remission.”
“While the legal team argued for a full remission of the fine based on new evidence, the judge only granted a partial reduction in light of the defendant's cooperation.”
Examples
simple
“The doctor says her cancer is now in remission.”
contextual
“After months of intensive chemotherapy, the patient was relieved to hear that his leukemia had finally gone into complete remission.”
complex
“While the legal team argued for a full remission of the fine based on new evidence, the judge only granted a partial reduction in light of the defendant's cooperation.”
Usage
Often used in the prepositional phrase 'in remission' when referring to health; 'remission of' is standard for legal or financial contexts.
Real-World Examples
“The decision means that Lainault, who is in remission from her cancer, can take early retirement with any further treatment fully reimbursed by the French health system.” “Eventually the disease went into remission and my body returned to close to its previous condition.” Etymology
From Middle English remissioun (“release from duty; freeing of captives; mercy, pardon, respite; forgiveness; release from or reduction of penances; reduction in intensity (of a quality, symptom, etc.); transfer of property, quitclaim; legal opinion or submission; reference, cross-reference”) [and other forms], from Anglo-Norman remission, remissione, remissioun, remissiun and Middle French, Old French remission (“forgiveness of sin; pardoning of an offence; postponement; cessation, suspension; diminishing or weakening of something; reduction of debt; reduction in intensity of a disease or symptom”) (modern French rémission), and their etymon Late Latin remissiō (“forgiveness; pardon of sins”), Latin remissiō (“release; sending back; easing off, relaxing, softening; reduction of debt; reduction in intensity of a disease or symptom”), from remittō (“to remit, send back; to diminish; to relax; to do without, forego”) + -siō. Remittō is derived from re- (prefix meaning ‘back, backwards’) + mittō (“to cause to go; to send; to discharge, emit, let go, release; to throw; to extend, reach out; to announce, tell; to produce, yield; to attend, escort, guide; to dismiss, disregard; to end”) (possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European meyth₂- (“to change, exchange; to change places, go past”) or (s)meyt- (“to throw”)). The English word is cognate with Catalan remissió, Italian remissioni, remissione (“remission; withdrawal of legal action; compliance, submission”), Old Occitan remessió, Portuguese remisson, remissão (“pardon; remission”), Spanish remisión (“remission”).
From re- + mission.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domains
- 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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QR code
englishreference.com/q/remission