Cool MateAgreement vs Concession
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Agreement
Concession
| Agreement | Concession | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈɡriːmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈɡriːmənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/kənˈseʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kənˈseʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | A decision or understanding made by two or more people. | An agreement to allow something in order to reach a compromise. |
| Example | The two countries reached an agreement to trade resources. | The government made a concession to the workers' demands in order to avoid a strike. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | draft, formal, signed, negotiate, work out, conclude, in an/the agreement, under an/the agreement, agreement between, breach of agreement, the terms of the agreement, absolute, complete, full, arrive at, come to, reach, by agreement, in agreement, in agreement with, absolute, complete, full, arrive at, come to, reach, by agreement, in agreement, in agreement with | important, key, major, grant (somebody/something), make, offer (somebody/something), concession on, concession to, make no concessions to somebody/something, important, key, major, grant (somebody/something), make, offer (somebody/something), concession on, concession to, make no concessions to somebody/something, tax, travel, be available to, trade, logging, oil, grant (somebody/something), obtain, secure, trade, logging, oil, grant (somebody/something), obtain, secure |
| Antonyms | disagreement, conflict, dissonance | refusal, denial |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'agreement' as a verb; 'agree' is the correct form., Wrongly uses plural form 'agreements' in contexts that require a singular., Forgets to include 'on' after 'agreement' when talking about specific topics. | Confused with 'confession' which has a different meaning., Using 'concession' in informal conversations where simpler terms might fit better., Mispronouncing it as 'con-cession' instead of 'con-cess-ion'. |
| Usage notes | Used when talking about decisions made together. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in very informal settings where simpler words might suffice. | Typically used in formal contexts such as negotiations, debates, or discussions. It may sound out of place in casual conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Agreement vs Concession
What's the difference between Agreement and Concession?
Agreement: A decision or understanding made by two or more people. Concession: An agreement to allow something in order to reach a compromise.
Which is more formal: Agreement and Concession?
Concession is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Agreement and Concession?
Agreement is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Agreement and Concession?
Concession is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Agreement and Concession the same CEFR level?
Agreement: B1, Concession: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Agreement and Concession?
Agreement: noun, Concession: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Agreement: The two countries reached an agreement to trade resources. Concession: The government made a concession to the workers' demands in order to avoid a strike.
Can I use Agreement and Concession interchangeably?
Not always. Agreement and Concession are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.