What does "concession" mean?
The act of conceding.
Concession
/kənˈsɛʃən/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The act of conceding.
- Grammar: concession is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: grant, abatement, abatement of differences, acceptance.
- Useful contrasts: arguing, arrogating, checkmating.
- Usage evidence: We believe that you will be able to make a price concession.
How to use "concession"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "concession" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "concession" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "concession" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "concession" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "concession" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "grant" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "concession", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The act of conceding. uncountable, usually
"Any parsone, prest or clerk, havyng any benefice... by wey of presentation, donation, concession, collation or institution."
- 2 a contract granting the right to operate a subsidiary business wordnet
- 3 An act of conceding; A compromise: a partial yielding to demands or requests. uncountable, usually
"But these concessions failed, as I believe concessions to evil always do fail."
- 4 the act of conceding or yielding wordnet
- 5 An act of conceding; Land granted by an authority for some specific purpose; A portion of a township, especially equal lots once granted to settlers in Canada. historical, uncountable, usually
Show 16 more definitions
- 6 a point conceded or yielded wordnet
- 7 An act of conceding; Land granted by an authority for some specific purpose; A territory—usually an enclave in a major port—yielded to the administration of a foreign power. historical, uncountable, usually
"The French Concession in Shanghai"
- 8 An act of conceding; Land granted by an authority for some specific purpose; A concession road: a narrow road between tracts of farmland, especially in Ontario, from their origin during the granting of concessions (see above). Canada, uncountable, usually
- 9 An act of conceding; Land granted by an authority for some specific purpose; The premises granted to a business as a concession (see below) US, uncountable, usually
- 10 An act of conceding; A privilege granted by an authority, especially to conduct business on favorable terms within certain conditions and particularly:; A right to use land or an offshore area for a specific purpose, such as oil exploration. uncountable, usually
- 11 An act of conceding; A privilege granted by an authority, especially to conduct business on favorable terms within certain conditions and particularly:; A right to operate a quasi-independent franchise of a larger company. US, uncountable, usually
- 12 An act of conceding; A privilege granted by an authority, especially to conduct business on favorable terms within certain conditions and particularly:; A right to operate a quasi-independent business within another's premises, as with concessions stands. US, uncountable, usually
- 13 An act of conceding; A privilege granted by an authority, especially to conduct business on favorable terms within certain conditions and particularly:; A preferential tax rate. uncountable, usually
- 14 An act of conceding; A privilege granted by an authority, especially to conduct business on favorable terms within certain conditions and particularly:; A discounted price offered to certain classes of people, such as students or the elderly. UK, uncountable, usually
- 15 An act of conceding; An admission of the validity of an opponent's point in order to build an argument upon it or to move on to another of greater importance; an instance of this. rhetoric, uncountable, usually
- 16 An act of conceding; Any admission of the validity or rightness of a point; an instance of this. broadly, uncountable, usually
- 17 An act of conceding; An admission of defeat following an election. uncountable, usually
"Just moments ago, I spoke with George W. Bush and congratulated him on becoming the 43rd president of the United States. And I promised him that I wouldn't call him back this time... tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession."
- 18 A gift freely given or act freely made as a token of respect or to curry favor. uncountable, usually
- 19 A franchise: a business operated as a concession (see above). US, uncountable, usually
- 20 An item sold within a concession (see above) or from a concessions stand. US, plural-normally, uncountable, usually
- 21 A person eligible for a concession price (see above). UK, uncountable, usually
Verb
- 1 To grant or approve by means of a concession agreement.
"While the process of bringing the private sector into the railroad industry in Vietnam is probably not going to be a single step, several countries have pursued the path of concessioning their rail operations in order to reduce the public fiscal burden associated with rail subsidization and to improve a deficient service."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"We believe that you will be able to make a price concession."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "concession"?
Common synonyms include: grant, abatement, abatement of differences, acceptance, accommodation, accordance.
How do you use "concession" in a sentence?
We believe that you will be able to make a price concession.
How do you pronounce "concession"?
Pronounced /kənˈsɛʃən/.
Etymology
From late Middle English concession, from Middle French concession, from Latin concessiō (“a grant, permission, conceding”), from concēdō. Doublet of concessio.