Cool MateAgreement vs Permission
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Agreement
Permission
| Agreement | Permission | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈɡriːmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈɡriːmənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈmɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pərˈmɪʃn/"]/ |
| Meaning | A decision or understanding made by two or more people. | Being allowed to do something |
| Example | The two countries reached an agreement to trade resources. | I need permission from my parents to go out tonight. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | A2 |
| 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 | 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 | disagreement, conflict, dissonance | prohibition, 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. | 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 | Used when talking about decisions made together. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid in very informal settings where simpler words might suffice. | 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: Agreement vs Permission
What's the difference between Agreement and Permission?
Agreement: A decision or understanding made by two or more people. Permission: Being allowed to do something
Which is more common: Agreement and Permission?
Agreement is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Agreement and Permission?
Agreement is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Agreement and Permission the same CEFR level?
Agreement: B1, Permission: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Agreement and Permission?
Agreement: noun, Permission: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Agreement: The two countries reached an agreement to trade resources. Permission: I need permission from my parents to go out tonight.
Can I use Agreement and Permission interchangeably?
Not always. Agreement 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.