What does submission mean?
A submission is something presented to another person or body for consideration, or the act of presenting it. The word is especially common in academic, publishing, legal, and administrative contexts: an academic submission may be an essay or research paper, while a formal submission may be a proposal, application, or presentation of evidence. The phrase "make a submission" emphasizes the act of offering material, whereas "the submission" can refer to the document itself. In older and more formal usage, submission can also mean yielding to the authority or control of another person. Because the term can denote both the process and the item undergoing review, its meaning should be understood from context. It is a useful word for describing the formal transfer of information, work, or a proposal from its creator to someone empowered to assess it.
nounThe act of presenting a document, proposal, or other material to someone for consideration. It can also mean a document or piece of work submitted in this way, especially an academic essay or formal application.
- An act of presenting a document, proposal, or other material for consideration.
- A document, essay, application, or proposal submitted for review.
- The act of yielding, surrendering, or placing oneself under the authority or control of another.
- A formal proposal or request submitted to an organization, court, or other authority.
"The journal requested a revised submission after the reviewers raised several concerns."
"The deadline for the submission of applications is Friday."
"His submission to the committee outlined a more practical approach."
"She was required to make a submission of her personal details."
The plural is standard when referring to multiple documents, proposals, essays, or acts of presentation.
"The committee received more than two hundred submissions."
From the Latin for "sending forth," submission originally described presenting something for a decision; today it can refer both to the act and to the document being judged.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does submission come from?
The word submission comes through Old French from Latin submissio, a noun formed from submittere, meaning "to send under" or "to place under." The underlying sense is that of sending something forward to an authority for judgment, while the related idea of placing oneself under another's control developed into the sense of surrender. The English forms submit and submission therefore share the same Latin foundation, and the related adjective submissive reflects the idea of being subject to authority.
How submission is actually used
In academic and publishing contexts, "submission" commonly refers to an essay, paper, or manuscript offered for evaluation. In legal, business, and administrative contexts, it may refer to a formal proposal or application, while the sense involving surrender is more formal and often appears in phrases such as "on submission."
Easily confused with submission
A submission is something presented for review or consideration, whereas a transmission is the sending or broadcasting of a message, signal, or piece of information.