TKG English Learner's Dictionary

permission

permissionnoun

American /pɚˈmɪʃ.ən/ British /pəˈmɪʃ.ən/
no plural
fairly common

  1. agreement from someone in authority that allows you to do something

    uncountable [U]

    Collocations

    verb + noun ask for permission, give permission, get permission, grant permission, refuse permission
    noun + preposition permission for
    adjective + noun written permission, special permission

Word family

  • permit
  • permit

Common mistakes

I need a permission. I need permission.
In ordinary use permission is uncountable; a permission and the plural permissions appear only in technical contexts, such as computer file permissions.

For translators

Grammar trap In ordinary use, permission is uncountable: no a permission, no plural, except in technical contexts such as computer file permissions. Say give permission, ask permission, or permission to do something.