readmission
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
The act of allowing someone to enter a place or institution again, after they have left or been removed, especially a hospital or university.
The process or permission for re-entering or being accepted again into a group, organisation, territory, or status, often involving formal procedures or criteria.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a deverbal noun from the verb 'readmit'. It implies a formal process, often with conditions, rather than a casual return.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or meaning differences. In US contexts, it is frequently linked to university policies and healthcare insurance.
Connotations
In both varieties, it often carries connotations of bureaucratic process, policy, and formal assessment.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English, particularly in healthcare and university administration discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[readmission] + [to] + [institution/place][readmission] + [of] + [person/group][readmission] + [into] + [organisation/body]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms. Often used in formal phrases like 'a ticket for readmission'.]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could refer to a former employee being rehired or a company re-entering a market.
Academic
Common. Pertains to students resuming studies after withdrawal, suspension, or dismissal, governed by university statutes.
Everyday
Uncommon. Might be used regarding hospital stays or membership clubs.
Technical
Common in healthcare policy, referring to a patient's return to hospital within a specified period, often a key performance indicator.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The panel will decide whether to readmit the student.
- Patients readmitted within 30 days trigger a review.
American English
- The university board voted to readmit him conditionally.
- The new protocol aims to reduce the number of patients readmitted.
adverb
British English
- [No direct adverb form. Use 'upon readmission' or similar.]
American English
- [No direct adverb form. Use 'after being readmitted' or similar.]
adjective
British English
- The readmission process is outlined in the handbook.
- There is a high readmission rate for that surgical procedure.
American English
- She completed the readmission application online.
- Hospitals face penalties for excessive readmission rates.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His readmission to the club made him happy.
- She applied for readmission to the university after a year abroad.
- Hospital readmission is costly for the healthcare system.
- The committee granted his readmission on the condition he retake the first-year exams.
- A key goal is to reduce preventable readmissions for chronic heart failure.
- The stringent readmission criteria were criticised for disproportionately affecting non-traditional students.
- Policymakers are analysing the drivers behind the 30-day readmission rate as a metric of care quality.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE-ADMISSION. You are admitted (let in) once. Then you need to be admitted AGAIN (RE-). It's a second admission.
Conceptual Metaphor
ENTRANCE/ACCESS AS A PRODUCT (e.g., 'He was granted readmission.'). REVERSAL OF EXCLUSION (e.g., 'The policy facilitates readmission.').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'повторное признание' (which implies confession/acknowledgement).
- Closer equivalents are 'повторное поступление' (for studies), 'повторная госпитализация' (for hospital), or 'восстановление' (reinstatement).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'readmission' (no hyphen is standard).
- Confusing with 're-admission' (less common variant).
- Using it for informal returns (e.g., 'readmission to the party' is overly formal).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'readmission' MOST commonly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Admission' is the first or initial act of allowing entry. 'Readmission' specifically refers to allowing entry again, after a previous period of admission has ended.
The standard modern spelling is without a hyphen: 'readmission'. The hyphenated form 're-admission' is less common but not incorrect.
It is primarily used for people or groups (e.g., a patient, a student, a country). Using it for objects is very rare and atypical.
The preposition 'to' is most common (e.g., 'readmission to the programme'). 'Into' and 'of' are also used (e.g., 'readmission into the union', 'readmission of the former member').