What does admission mean?
Admission is a noun with two principal meanings. First, it denotes the act or process of allowing someone to enter a place, join an organization, or become part of an institution — as in gaining admission to a university or hospital. By extension, it can refer to the price paid for entry, as in an admission fee. Second, it signifies an acknowledgment or confession that something is true, especially when reluctantly conceded: "an admission of guilt." The word derives from the Latin admittere, meaning "to send toward" or "to let in," which explains its dual sense of both physical entry and mental acceptance. Common collocations include "gain admission to," "admission fee," and "by one's own admission." Its related forms include admit, admittance, admittedly, and admissible. Because it spans both institutional gatekeeping and personal candor, admission is a versatile word appearing frequently in academic, legal, medical, and everyday contexts.
The act of allowing someone to enter a place, organization, or institution.
"Admission to the concert requires a valid ticket."
Often used in formal or institutional contexts such as schools, hospitals, and museums.
A fee charged for entry to a place or event.
"Admission is ten dollars at the door."
An acknowledgment or confession that something is true.
"His admission that he had lied shocked everyone in the room."
The plural "admissions" commonly refers collectively to entries or confessions, and very frequently to the administrative office or process managing entry to institutions (as in "the admissions office").
"She works in the admissions department at the college."
Every time you say "admission," you're echoing a Latin phrase about letting go — admittere literally meant "to send toward."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of admission
Admission comes from the Latin admittere, formed from ad- ("toward") and mittere ("to send" or "let go"), originally meaning to allow entry or let something in. It entered English via Old French in the late Middle Ages, initially carrying the sense of permission to enter. Over time it developed its secondary sense of conceding or acknowledging a truth, paralleling the verb admit's own semantic expansion. It shares its Latin root with words such as mission, permission, submission, and remission.
Related word forms
How admission is actually used
In formal contexts such as universities and hospitals, "admission" carries an official, procedural tone. The plural "admissions" often refers specifically to the department or process handling entry (e.g., an admissions office). In legal and everyday speech, an "admission" implies accepting something true, sometimes against one's interest.
Easily confused with admission
"Admittance" refers only to physical entry into a place, while "admission" also covers entry to institutions and the confession of a truth.
"Submission" means yielding or presenting something for consideration, whereas "admission" means granting entry or acknowledging a fact.