suspension

noun

sus·​pen·​sion sə-ˈspen(t)-shən How to pronounce suspension (audio)
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

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 Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll. Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2024 Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images Work on the package is set to kick off in the House, where lawmakers are expected to vote under suspension of the rules on Wednesday due to ongoing opposition from some House conservatives. Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2024 North County Transit District’s Coaster commuter trains between San Diego and Oceanside are not affected by the suspension. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024 Nowell will serve his suspension when Stockton plays host to the Mexico City Capitanes at 11 a.m. Thursday at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 5 Mar. 2024 Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo said the doctors face a minimum three-month suspension. Jiwon Song and Hyung-Jin Kim, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024 The league investigation led to, among other things, the suspension in 2015 of New England’s quarterback, Tom Brady, for four regular-season games without pay for not fully cooperating with the probe; a federal judge reversed the penalty. Richard Sandomir, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Ronaldo will miss Al-Nassr’s game against Al-Hazm on Thursday in line with his suspension. CNN, 29 Feb. 2024 The Heat remained without Tyler Herro (left knee hyperextension), Josh Richardson (right shoulder dislocation), Thomas Bryant (league suspension), Jamal Cain (G League assignment), Orlando Robinson (lower back spasms), Dru Smith (right knee surgery) and Cole Swider (G League). Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 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.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English suspensyon, from Anglo-French suspension, from Late Latin suspension-, suspensio, from Latin suspendere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of suspension was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near suspension

Cite this Entry

“Suspension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suspension. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

suspension

noun
sus·​pen·​sion sə-ˈspen-chən How to pronounce suspension (audio)
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 How to pronounce suspension (audio)
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

Legal Definition

suspension

noun
sus·​pen·​sion
: the act of suspending : the state or period of being suspended
the suspension of an employee

More from Merriam-Webster on suspension

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