remission
ri-MISH-uhn
/rɪˈmɪʃ.ən/
A cancellation or reduction of a debt, penalty, or prison sentence; or the temporary abatement of disease symptoms.
In law, remission refers to forgiving or reducing fines, prison days, or taxes; in medicine, it means a period without disease symptoms.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'remissio', from 'remittere' (to send back, relax, or slacken). To grant remission is literally to 'send back' or slacken a claim or sentence.
Word relationships
- abatement: Abatement refers to reduction in degree or intensity, while remission often means formal cancellation of penalty or disease symptom pause.
- cancellation: Cancellation stops something entirely, whereas remission can be partial reduction or temporary abatement.
- enforcement: Enforcement requires full collection or execution of penalties.
- relapse: Relapse in medicine is the return of disease, direct opposite of medical remission.
Commonly confused with
- emission: Emission is sending out gas or light; remission is reducing or forgiving penalty/disease.
Word family
- remit (verb): To cancel or refrain from exacting a penalty or debt.
- remissible (adjective): Capable of being forgiven or remitted.
Collocations
- remission of sentence
- in remission
- full remission
- remission of debt
- remission of taxes
Idioms & expressions
- go into remission
Example sentences
- "The inmate earned a six-month remission of sentence for outstanding behavior and completion of educational programs." Penal administration
- "The oncologist confirmed that the patient's cancer had officially entered full remission." Medical diagnosis
Memory hook
RE-MISSION = Sending back (re-mit) the sentence or disease so it goes away. Remission = Reduction or slackening of penalty/disease.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'transmission' (sending across) or 'permission' (allowance).
Fun facts
- In medieval law, the 'remission of sins' was linked to papal letters granted to pilgrims who undertook arduous holy journeys.
Related words
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