pursuant
Americanadjective
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proceeding after; following (usually followed byto ).
Pursuant to his studies he took a job in an office.
adverb
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according (usually followed byto ).
to do something pursuant to an agreement.
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in a manner conformable (usually followed byto ).
to act pursuant to the dictates of one's conscience.
adjective
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law in agreement or conformity
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archaic pursuing
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pursuant
1425–75; late Middle English, variant of pursevant pursuivant
Explanation
Pursuant is used mainly in a legal sense to say something's in accordance with a particular law, ruling, or request. It's followed by the word "to." So you might say, "Pursuant to the judge's request, we'll provide additional testimony." Pursuant sounds a bit like pursue, and has a related meaning in the sense of "following" — but in this case it's an agreement or ruling that you're following. Pursuant comes from the French word pursuer, meaning "to follow with hostile intent." Over time the word lost its sense of hostility — unless of course you're angry when the lawyer tells you that pursuant to the investment policy, you can't withdraw all your money and run away to Paris.
Vocabulary lists containing pursuant
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
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Holes
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Just Mercy
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
To claim a potential refund, people need to write “Protective Refund Claim Pursuant to Kwong Case” or similar wording across the top of the form, she said.
From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026
Pursuant to President Trump’s 2025 executive order creating a National Center for Warrior Independence on the 388-acre campus, the notice envisions restoring the building as “a supportive space for veteran interfaith programming and wellness.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
Pursuant to the bankruptcy plan, ownership of the company will now be handed over to its lenders and all its equity shares would cease to exist.
From Reuters • Nov. 15, 2023
Pursuant to Allen’s wishes, the Cinerama was earmarked to be sold with all estate proceeds dedicated to philanthropy, according to SIFF.
From Seattle Times • May 17, 2023
Pursuant to Telegram No. 164 of the 1st inst.
From My Three Years in America by Bernstorff, Johann Heinrich Andreas Hermann Albrecht Graf von
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
