remit
B2/C1Formal/Business/Administrative
Definition
Meaning
To send money, usually as payment for goods or services; also, to refer a matter to an authority for consideration.
To send back (as for review); to cancel or refrain from exacting (a penalty); to transmit or submit; to restore or pardon.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is polysemous. Its core verb senses are financial (to send payment) and procedural (to refer to an authority). The noun form 'remit' (British English) means the area of responsibility or terms of reference.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The noun 'remit' (meaning area of responsibility) is significantly more common and established in British English than in American English. In AmE, terms like 'mandate', 'scope', or 'purview' are often preferred. The verb 'remit' is used in both, though slightly more formal in AmE.
Connotations
In UK contexts, 'remit' (noun) is a standard, neutral administrative term. In US contexts, the noun can sound distinctly British or legalistic.
Frequency
Verb: Mid-frequency in formal contexts in both. Noun: High-frequency in UK administrative/business contexts; low-frequency in US contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
remit sth to sb/sthremit sthIt is remitted that...be remitted to sb/sthVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “beyond/outside my remit”
- “fall within the remit of”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"Please remit the balance within 30 days." (verb, payment). "Marketing is outside my department's remit." (noun, UK).
Academic
"The ethical questions were remitted to a special committee."
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used: "I'll remit the cheque tomorrow."
Technical
Legal: "The case was remitted to the lower court." Tax: "Taxes remitted to the treasury."
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- Organising social events is not part of my job remit.
- The committee's remit was narrowly defined.
American English
- The oversight fell outside the panel's remit. (Less common, formal)
verb
British English
- You must remit the VAT quarterly to HMRC.
- The tribunal remitted the case for a fresh hearing.
American English
- Please remit your payment to the address on the invoice.
- The judge remitted the fine due to extenuating circumstances.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I will remit the money tomorrow.
- His remit is to manage the team.
- The bank charges a fee to remit funds internationally.
- Does website design fall within your remit?
- The court remitted the decision back to the lower judge for review.
- Our remit has been expanded to include quality control.
- The central office failed to remit the collected taxes, causing a fiscal shortfall.
- The inquiry's remit was controversially broad, encompassing both policy and personal conduct.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: RE-MIT. MIT like 'MIT' (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). You RE-send your application fee TO MIT. You remit payment.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESPONSIBILITY IS A CONTAINER (for the noun 'remit'). "That's inside/outside my remit."
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do NOT confuse with Russian 'ремит' (a card game) or 'ремонт' (repair). The verb 'to remit' is not 'to permit' or 'to admit'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing noun/verb: 'His remit is to remit payments.' (correct). Incorrect preposition: 'remit for' instead of 'remit to'. Using noun in AmE where 'scope' is expected.
Practice
Quiz
In British administrative English, 'remit' most commonly means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is primarily used in formal, business, legal, and administrative contexts. It sounds stiff in casual conversation.
'Remit' often implies sending something (money, a case) back or onward to a specific authority. 'Submit' is broader, meaning to present for consideration or yield to authority.
You can, but it will likely be perceived as a Britishism or very formal. Americans often use 'scope', 'mandate', 'purview', or 'job description' instead.
The past tense and past participle are both 'remitted'. Example: "He remitted the payment yesterday."
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