remits

Remit has several related senses in English. As a noun, remit means the scope of duties and responsibilities assigned to an organization or person, defined by charter, statute, or contract. Etymology traces to Latin remittere, meaning to send back or away.

In governance and public administration, the remit of a committee, ministry, or agency describes what it is authorized to do and decide. The remit is set by legislation, charter, or agreement and may be revised as missions or conditions change. The term helps delineate jurisdiction and avoid overreach among bodies with overlapping functions.

As a verb, remit has several meanings. It can mean to send money as payment (remit funds). It can also mean to refrain from enforcing a debt or penalty, or to cancel a charge (remit a debt or punishment). In finance, remittance refers to the payment or transfer of funds, often cross-border, by a person to a recipient in another country.

Usage notes: remit is common in British and Commonwealth contexts to describe the scope of authority or responsibility. In American English, speakers more often use terms such as jurisdiction or scope of authority. Distinctions between remit and remittance are important: remit can be a verb or noun describing scope; remittance is the noun for the money transferred.

Related concepts include jurisdiction, mandate, authority, assignment, and remittance.