pretermit
Americanverb (used with object)
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to let pass without notice; disregard.
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to leave undone; neglect; omit.
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to suspend or interrupt.
The government temporarily pretermitted its repayments of foreign aid.
verb
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to overlook intentionally; disregard
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to fail to do; neglect; omit
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pretermit
1505–15; < Latin praetermittere to let pass, equivalent to praeter- preter- + mittere to let go, send
Explanation
To pretermit is to overlook or omit something. In an effort to make a family dinner pleasant, your parents might pretermit any discussions of sensitive or controversial issues that might lead to arguments. The verb pretermit is often used in a legal context, both for things that are accidentally left out and for those deliberately omitted. A person who neglects to update their will after having another child inadvertently pretermits that child from the will. A judge who refuses to consider a lawyer's motion in court because it was filed past the deadline pretermits the motion. Pretermit is from the Latin praetermittere and its roots, praeter, "past," and mittere, "to send."
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.
See Examples For:
The convention did not pretermit the duty of reiterating those principles, and you will find them prominently set forth in the resolutions it adopted.
From Sketches and Studies by Nathaniel Hawthorne
I pretermit their unparallel'd Impieties, &c. and only close all with this one Story that follows.
As it is so cold, I think you may pass the word to pretermit the rounds to-night—save two.
From The Long Night by Stanley John Weyman
What precisely is meant by 'ideal' is a question which for the moment I pretermit.
From Hours in a Library, Volume I. (of III.) by Sir Leslie Stephen
One thing, in conclusion, he "may not pretermit" to give the lie in the throat to his accuser, where he charges him with seeking support against his native country.
From Familiar Studies of Men and Books by Robert Louis Stevenson
“The law ensures that the pretermitted heir is treated fairly and receives a portion of the estate as if there was no will in place,” the firm says.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2025
I search my diary in vain to find some pretermitted adventure wherewith to give you a thrill, or, as good Mrs. B. calls it, "a feel"; but I can find none.
From A First Year in Canterbury Settlement by Samuel Butler
Meantime, under the influence of some anodyne which Pete had found in his medicine chest, Mr. Hamlin became quiet and pretermitted his vocal obligato.
From Gabriel Conroy by Bert Harte
The monotonous strokes of an axe were suddenly pretermitted, and somewhere from the depths of the close-set pines a voice answered "Flip."
From Flip, a California romance by Bret Harte
That Sunday afternoon the whole town pretermitted its afternoon nap and flocked up past the Warren to view the camp.
From Nicky-Nan, Reservist by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Daughters performed the said offices to their fathers, and sisters to their brothers; not pretermitting those who did not neglect their broken-pated bachelors to whom they paid equal attention.
From The Ned M'Keown Stories Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume Three by William Carleton
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