remission

UK: /rɪˈmɪʃ^ən/ US: /rɪˈmɪʃən/ ,(ri mish′ən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•mis•sion /rɪˈmɪʃən/   n. 

1. [uncountable] the act of remitting.
2. pardon;
   forgiveness:
   [uncountable] prayed for the remission of sin.
   [countable] a remission of one's sins.
3. the act of lessening the length of a prison sentence:
   [countable] a remission of one year for good behavior.
   [uncountable] an appeal for remission.
4. Medicine
   • [uncountable] a temporary or permanent decrease in the signs of a disease, as cancer.
   • [countable] a period during which such a decrease occurs:
     a six-month remission.

See -mis-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

re•mis•sion  (ri mish′ən), n. 

1. the act of remitting.
2. pardon;
   forgiveness, as of sins or offenses.
3. abatement or diminution, as of diligence, labor, intensity, etc.
4. the relinquishment of a payment, obligation, etc.
5. Medicine
   • a temporary or permanent decrease or subsidence of manifestations of a disease.
   • a period during which such a decrease or subsidence occurs:
     The patient's leukemia was in remission.

• Latin remissiōn- (stem of remissiō). See remiss, -ion
• Old French
• Middle English 1175–1225

Synonyms

• 2. absolution.
• 3. lessening, relaxation.
• 4. release.

Antonyms

• 2. blame, censure.
• 3. intensification.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

remission / rɪˈmɪʃən/, (less commonly)remittal / rɪˈmɪt^əl/ noun

1. the act of remitting or state of being remitted
2. a reduction of the term of a sentence of imprisonment, as for good conduct
3. forgiveness for sin
4. discharge or release from penalty, obligation, etc
5. lessening of intensity; abatement, as in the severity of symptoms of a disease

reˈmissive adjective

reˈmissively adverb