Permitted vs They're licensed to carry firearms

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Permitted

Top 3,000 (common)

They're licensed to carry firearms

FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Most formal: They're licensed to carry firearmsMost common: Permitted
 PermittedThey're licensed to carry firearms
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //pəˈmɪtɪd//🇺🇸 //pəˈmɪtɪd//🇬🇧 //ðeə'raɪsənst tə 'kæri 'faɪəˌrɑːmz//🇺🇸 //ðeɪr 'laɪsənst tə 'kæri 'faɪərm//
MeaningAllowed or given permission to do something.They have permission to have guns.
ExampleOnly employees are permitted to enter the restricted area.They are licensed to carry firearms for their security jobs.
RegisterNeutralFormal
How commonTop 3,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Collocationsbe permitted to do something, not permitted, only permitted, permitted by law, permitted activitiescarry firearms, licensed to carry, firearms regulations
Antonymsprohibited, forbidden, restricted-
Common mistakesConfusing with 'allowed' as they are similar but 'permitted' is more formal., Using 'permitted' in informal contexts where 'allowed' is more appropriate., Incorrectly conjugating it as 'permit' instead of 'permitted' in past contexts.Confused with 'licensed for carrying guns' which is less common., Using 'license' as a verb incorrectly instead of 'licensed' as an adjective.
Usage notesUse 'permitted' in formal contexts, such as legal or official discussions. Avoid using it in casual conversation.Use in legal or official contexts. More formal than saying 'allowed to have guns'.

See it in real clips

Permitted
They're licensed to carry firearms

Frequently asked questions: Permitted vs They're licensed to carry firearms

What's the difference between Permitted and They're licensed to carry firearms?

Permitted: Allowed or given permission to do something. They're licensed to carry firearms: They have permission to have guns.

Which is more formal: Permitted and They're licensed to carry firearms?

They're licensed to carry firearms is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Permitted and They're licensed to carry firearms?

Permitted is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Permitted: Only employees are permitted to enter the restricted area. They're licensed to carry firearms: They are licensed to carry firearms for their security jobs.

Can I use Permitted and They're licensed to carry firearms interchangeably?

Not always. Permitted and They're licensed to carry firearms 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.

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