concession

plural concessions

1. uncountableusuallyThe act of conceding.

   In this country... civil war has been forestalled by opportune concession.

   1876, James Bowling Mozley, Sermons Preached before the University of Oxford, v, 130

   1 more example

   Any parsone, prest or clerk, havyng any benefice... by wey of presentation, donation, concession, collation or institution.

   c. 1472, October, Rolls of Parliament, Edward IV, 2nd Roll, §8

2. An act of conceding
   1. uncountableusuallyA compromise: a partial yielding to demands or requests.

      But these concessions failed, as I believe concessions to evil always do fail.

      1865, John Bright, Speeches of John Bright, M.P., on the American Question,, page 174

   2. historicaluncountableusuallyA portion of a township, especially equal lots once granted to settlers in Canada.
   3. historicaluncountableusuallyA territory—usually an enclave in a major port—yielded to the administration of a foreign power.

      The French Concession in Shanghai

   4. CanadauncountableusuallyA concession road: a narrow road between tracts of farmland, especially in Ontario, from their origin during the granting of concessions (see above).
   5. USuncountableusuallyThe premises granted to a business as a concession (see below)
   6. uncountableusuallyA right to use land or an offshore area for a specific purpose, such as oil exploration.
   7. USuncountableusuallyA right to operate a quasi-independent franchise of a larger company.
   8. USuncountableusuallyA right to operate a quasi-independent business within another's premises, as with concessions stands.

      Synonyms: franchise

   9. uncountableusuallyA preferential tax rate.
   10. UKuncountableusuallyA discounted price offered to certain classes of people, such as students or the elderly.
   11. rhetoricuncountableusuallyAn admission of the validity of an opponent's point in order to build an argument upon it or to move on to another of greater importance; an instance of this.

       Synonyms: concessio

   12. broadlyuncountableusuallyAny admission of the validity or rightness of a point; an instance of this.
   13. uncountableusuallyAn admission of defeat following an election.

       Just moments ago, I spoke with George W. Bush and congratulated him on becoming the 43rd president of the United States. And I promised him that I wouldn't call him back this time... tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession.

       2000 December 13, Al Gore, Concession Speech

3. uncountableusuallyA gift freely given or act freely made as a token of respect or to curry favor.
4. USuncountableusuallyA franchise: a business operated as a concession (see above).
5. USplural normallyuncountableusuallyAn item sold within a concession (see above) or from a concessions stand.
6. UKuncountableusuallyA person eligible for a concession price (see above).

present singular third person concessions · participle present concessioning · participle past concessioned · past concessioned

1. To grant or approve by means of a concession agreement.

   [A] consultant was contracted for one year to prepare the legal and administrative framework for concessioning selected roads to the private sector and is expected to complete the framework in July 2005.

   2007, International Monetary Fund, Kenya: Poverty Reduction Strategy Annual Progress Report - 2003/2004, International Monetary Fund, page 24

   1 more example

   While the process of bringing the private sector into the railroad industry in Vietnam is probably not going to be a single step, several countries have pursued the path of concessioning their rail operations in order to reduce the public fiscal burden associated with rail subsidization and to improve a deficient service.

   2000, Private Solutions for Infrastructure: Opportunities for Vietnam, World Bank Publications, →ISBN, page 82