permission
consent / authorization
[C/U] Both
pl: permissions
This word carries a sense of hierarchy and authorization. It implies a power dynamic where one party holds the authority to grant or deny a request, making it more formal and restrictive than simply saying someone is allowed to do something. In legal or technical contexts, it refers to a specific right or privilege granted to a user or entity, such as file permissions in computing. This creates a feeling of a gated system where access is a binary state: either you have the permission or you are blocked.
Uncountable when referring to the general concept of being allowed to do something. Countable when referring to specific authorizations or permits, such as having multiple permissions set on a computer file.