To say that something is true, especially when it is difficult or embarrassing. It can also mean to allow someone to enter a place or join a group.
From Latin *admittere* meaning “to let in” or “to grant entrance,” from *ad-* “to” and *mittere* “to send.” It passed through Old French and Middle English before becoming the modern English *admit*.
When you ‘admit’ something, you’re literally ‘sending it toward’ others—letting a truth or a person in. The emotional feeling of confession and the physical act of entering a building come from the same root idea. It’s all about opening a door, whether to your mind, your heart, or a room.
The language of "admitting" has often been applied differentially, with women and marginalized groups pressured to admit fault or guilt in contexts where men might be excused or not questioned. In institutional settings, admission to schools or professions historically excluded women, shaping who could be "admitted" at all.
Use "admit" neutrally and avoid framing confessions or acknowledgments as more expected from one gender. In institutional contexts, be explicit about past exclusionary admission policies rather than treating admission as purely merit-based.
["acknowledge","accept","grant access","enroll"]
Women fought for the right to be admitted to universities, professional associations, and guilds, often facing formal bans and informal resistance that shaped who could participate in public life.
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