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

• abeyance
• cold storage
• deep freeze
• doldrums
• dormancy
• holding pattern
• latency
• moratorium
• quiescence
• suspended animation
• suspense

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

Despite a lengthy apology to Trevor Lawrence and multiple players, GMs, and pundits arguing over the suspension for Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, the NFL has chosen to uphold his three-game suspension. —Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024

For 2025, the automaker has taken it up a notch with the new standard suspension in the gas-only B5 and B6 trim levels using Frequency Selective Damping technology. —Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 5 Dec. 2024

James, who was serving a one-game suspension in Week 4, is coming off one of his best games of the season. —Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024

That in turn was followed in 2005 by a less-extreme variation of the theme known as the M3 CS over in Europe and the M3 Competition Package in America, which used the base powertrain but added the CSL’s steering, a tighter suspension, and bigger brakes. —Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 3 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing suspension

• active suspension
• air suspension
• independent suspension
• suspension bridge
• suspension points

Kids 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

Legal Definition

suspension

noun

sus·​pen·​sion

: the act of suspending : the state or period of being suspended

the suspension of an employee