A concession is something you give up or allow, even though you'd prefer not to, usually to reach an agreement or end a disagreement. When two friends argue about which game to play, one might make a concession by agreeing to play the other's choice first, then switch later.

In negotiations, both sides typically make concessions. If you and your sister both want to sit in the front seat of the car, you might make a concession by agreeing to switch halfway through the trip. Countries make concessions in peace treaties, companies make concessions in business deals, and parents make concessions when they allow a later bedtime on weekends.

The word also means a special right or privilege granted by a government or organization. At a ballpark, different vendors operate concession stands because they've been granted the concession to sell food there. A mining company might receive a concession to extract minerals from public land.

When someone makes a concession, they're showing flexibility and a willingness to compromise. A concession isn't surrender: it's a strategic give-and-take that helps people move forward together.