postponement

American  

[pohst-pohn-muhnt, pohs-] / poʊstˈpoʊn mənt, poʊs- /

noun

1. the act of putting something off to a later time; deferral.

   Taking your sick or injured pet to the veterinarian should be prompt, as any postponement can lead to ongoing medical issues.

2. the act of placing a thing below something else in importance or after something else in sequence (now used most often in grammar).

   Historically, inheritance laws tended toward a postponement of the claims of female kin to those of male kin.

   In English, the end position in a sentence is normally reserved for the key point, so postponement of an element is a way of emphasizing it.

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Other Word Forms

• nonpostponement noun
• self-postponement noun

Etymology

Origin of postponement

postpone ( def. ) + -ment ( def. )

Example Sentences

In a statement released just before Parliament's Christmas recess, Local Government Minister Alison McGovern said "multiple councils" had requested a postponement.

From BBC

The postponement marked the second time the case has been delayed.

From The Wall Street Journal

Jason, 27, knows the pain of court delays all too well - and says each postponement feels like losing his mother, Charlene, all over again.

From BBC

Mr Reavey is suing both parties, but a postponement of the case has overshadowed the anniversary of the shootings this weekend.

From BBC

The leader of Exeter City Council, Phil Bialyk, said he was to discuss the issue with the council's chief executive ahead of making a decision on whether to request a postponement.

From BBC

Related Words

• adjournment
• freeze
• halt
• pause
• respite
• stay
• suspension