permit

1 of 3

verb

per·​mit pər-ˈmit How to pronounce permit (audio)
permitted; permitting

transitive verb

1
: to consent to expressly or formally
permit access to records
2
: to give leave : authorize
3
: to make possible
the design permits easy access

intransitive verb

: to give an opportunity : allow
if time permits
permittee
pər-ˌmi(t)-ˈtē How to pronounce permit (audio)
ˌpər-mi(t)-
noun
permitter noun

permit

2 of 3

noun (1)

per·​mit ˈpər-ˌmit How to pronounce permit (audio)
pər-ˈmit
1
: a written warrant or license granted by one having authority
a gun permit
2

permit

3 of 3

noun (2)

: a pompano (Trachinotus falcatus) that is an important game fish of temperate to tropical waters of the western Atlantic

Examples of permit in a Sentence

Verb The judge permitted the release of the prisoner. Smoking is not permitted in the building. When we arrived at customs we realized we had more than the permitted number of items. He permitted himself one more cookie. The new ramp permits easier access to the highway.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
The Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas makes a triumphant fifth-year return—this time in the exclusive Turtle Creek neighborhood after previously combatting permitting and parking issues in Preston Hollow. Anne Lee Phillips, Architectural Digest, 28 Oct. 2024 Under the amendment, adults 21 and up would be permitted to possess up to three ounces of marijuana and up to five ounces in the form of marijuana concentrate. Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 28 Oct. 2024
Noun
Advertisement English-language scripted projects being filmed in the L.A. region fell by 19.7% in 2023 compared with 2022, according to a study by FilmLA, which handles film permits and tracks regional production. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024 But New York Police Department officers quickly arrived on the scene to try and disperse the crowd for gathering without a permit, NBC reported. Jen Juneau, People.com, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for permit 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English permitten, from Latin permittere to let through, permit, from per- through + mittere to let go, send

Noun (2)

perhaps by folk etymology from Spanish palometa, a kind of pompano, from diminutive of paloma dove, from Latin palumba, palumbes — more at palomino

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1649, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of permit was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near permit

Cite this Entry

“Permit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/permit. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

permit

1 of 2 verb
per·​mit pər-ˈmit How to pronounce permit (audio)
permitted; permitting
1
: to consent to : give permission : allow
2
: to make possible : give an opportunity
if time permits
permitter noun

permit

2 of 2 noun
per·​mit ˈpər-ˌmit How to pronounce permit (audio)
pər-ˈmit
: a written statement of permission given by one having authority : license

Legal Definition

permit

noun
: a written warrant or license granted by one having authority
a building permit

More from Merriam-Webster on permit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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