suspension
noun
sus·pen·sion
sə-ˈspen(t)-shən 
1
: the act of suspending : the state or period of being suspended: such as
a
: temporary removal (as from office or privileges)
b
: temporary withholding (as of belief or decision)
c
: temporary abrogation of a law or rule
d(1)
: the holding over of one or more musical tones of a chord into the following chord producing a momentary discord and suspending the concord which the ear expects
specifically
: such a dissonance which resolves downward compare anticipation, retardation
(2)
: the tone thus held over
e
: stoppage of payment of business obligations : failure
—used especially of a business or a bank
f
: a rhetorical device whereby the principal idea is deferred to the end of a sentence or longer unit
2
a
: the act of hanging : the state of being hung
b(1)
: the state of a substance when its particles are mixed with but undissolved in a fluid or solid
(2)
: a substance in this state
(3)
: a system consisting of a solid dispersed in a solid, liquid, or gas usually in particles of larger than colloidal size compare emulsion
3
: something suspended
4
: the means by which something is suspended
especially
: the system of devices (such as springs) supporting the upper part of a vehicle on the axles
Synonyms
Examples of suspension in a Sentence
He was angry about his suspension from the team.
His record shows several suspensions from school.
He's under suspension for breaking the rules.
a suspension of the rules
She was punished by suspension of her driver's license.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rice could face a variety of penalties, including a suspension.
—
David Ammenheuser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2024
Had this boy’s teachers done that, the suspension could have been avoided.
—Sarah Butrymowicz, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Although one boy received a suspension, Jo and their mother were dismayed that the school did not mete out more consequences.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
Tsunami warnings were initially issued across the country and in southern Japan and the Philippines after the quake, causing flight suspensions in airports, per Reuters.
—Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
The pursuit of complicated mechanical answers to problems with easy digital solutions requires a certain suspension of disbelief.
—Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2024
The league penalty for betting on games in which a player was uninvolved — including pro or amateur games going down as far as youth leagues — is a year’s suspension.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Under the city’s ordinance, after three violations — regardless of the time frame — a short-term rental can be suspended for 180 days; a fourth violation can lead to a one-year suspension.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
Johnson did so under a suspension of the rules, which required him to rely on Democrats to get the bills across the finish line.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2024
David Ammenheuser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2024
Had this boy’s teachers done that, the suspension could have been avoided.
—Sarah Butrymowicz, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
Although one boy received a suspension, Jo and their mother were dismayed that the school did not mete out more consequences.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
Tsunami warnings were initially issued across the country and in southern Japan and the Philippines after the quake, causing flight suspensions in airports, per Reuters.
—Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
The pursuit of complicated mechanical answers to problems with easy digital solutions requires a certain suspension of disbelief.
—Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 2 Apr. 2024
The league penalty for betting on games in which a player was uninvolved — including pro or amateur games going down as far as youth leagues — is a year’s suspension.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Under the city’s ordinance, after three violations — regardless of the time frame — a short-term rental can be suspended for 180 days; a fourth violation can lead to a one-year suspension.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
Johnson did so under a suspension of the rules, which required him to rely on Democrats to get the bills across the finish line.
—Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suspension.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near suspension
Cite this Entry
“Suspension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suspension. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
suspension
noun
sus·pen·sion
sə-ˈspen-chən
1
a
: the act or an instance of suspending
b
: the state of being suspended
c
: the period during which someone or something is suspended
2
: the act of hanging : the state of being hung
3
: the state of a substance when its particles are mixed with but not dissolved in a fluid or solid
also
: a substance in this state
4
: something suspended
5
: the system of devices (as springs) supporting the upper part of a vehicle on the axles
Medical Definition
suspension
noun
sus·pen·sion
sə-ˈspen-chən
1
a
: the state of a substance when its particles are mixed with but undissolved in a fluid or solid
b
: a substance in this state see oral suspension
2
: a system consisting of a solid dispersed in a solid, liquid, or gas usually in particles of larger than colloidal size
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