# permit

> English word · Verb · IPA /pɚˈmɪt/ · frequency rank #4,970

## Definitions
1. To allow (something) to happen, to give permission for.
2. To allow (someone) to do something; to give permission to.
3. To allow for, to make something possible.
4. To allow, to admit (of).
5. To grant formal authorization for (something).
6. To attempt to obtain or succeed in obtaining formal authorization for (something).
7. To hand over, resign (something to someone).

## Etymology
From Middle English permitten, borrowed from Middle French permettre, from Latin permittō (“give up, allow”), from per (“through”) + mittō (“send”).

## Easily confused with
- **pert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/permit-vs-pert)
- **petit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/permit-vs-petit)
- **Perot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/permit-vs-perot)
- **Persia** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/permit-vs-persia)
- **Perrin** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/permit-vs-perrin)
- **permits** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/permit-vs-permits)
- **persist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/permit-vs-persist)
- **perm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/perm-vs-permit)
- **peri** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/peri-vs-permit)
- **peril** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/peril-vs-permit)
- **Permian** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/permian-vs-permit)

## Common misspellings (9)
`eprmit`, `pemrit`, `perimt`, `permitt`, `permmit`, `permti`, `perrmit`, `ppermit`, `premit`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/permit