Cool MateApproval vs Permission
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Approval
Beyond 10,000 (less common)B2noun
Permission
Top 2,000 (common)A2noun
Most common: Permission
| Approval | Permission | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈpruːvl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈpruːvl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈmɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pərˈmɪʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | Being okay with something or someone. | Being allowed to do something |
| Example | The project received official approval from the board of directors. | I need permission from my parents to go out tonight. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | full, warm, wholehearted, need, require, seek, process, rating, on approval, with approval, with somebody’s approval, a nod of approval, a roar of approval, somebody’s seal of approval, full, warm, wholehearted, need, require, seek, process, rating, on approval, with approval, with somebody’s approval, a nod of approval, a roar of approval, somebody’s seal of approval | full, special, explicit, have, gain, get, with somebody’s permission, without somebody’s permission, permission for, by permission of somebody, full, special, explicit, have, gain, get, with somebody’s permission, without somebody’s permission, permission for, by permission of somebody |
| Antonyms | disapproval, rejection | prohibition, denial |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'approval' with 'approve' as they have different grammatical uses., Using 'approval' instead of 'approve' in sentences when a verb is required., Mixing up 'approval' with 'agreement' in contexts of consent. | Using 'permission' instead of 'permit' as a verb, Saying 'give permission to' instead of 'grant permission to', Confusing 'permission' with 'permission slip' which is a specific document |
| Usage notes | Use 'approval' in professional or formal contexts, such as meetings or reports. It’s less common in casual conversation, where you might say 'like' or 'okay with'. | Use 'permission' when talking about getting approval for an action. It's suitable in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid using it in slang settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Approval vs Permission
What's the difference between Approval and Permission?
Approval: Being okay with something or someone. Permission: Being allowed to do something
Which is more common: Approval and Permission?
Permission is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Approval and Permission?
Approval is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Approval and Permission the same CEFR level?
Approval: B2, Permission: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Approval and Permission?
Approval: noun, Permission: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Approval: The project received official approval from the board of directors. Permission: I need permission from my parents to go out tonight.
Can I use Approval and Permission interchangeably?
Not always. Approval and Permission 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.