sans
preposition
sans
1 American
[sanz, sahn ]
/ sænz, sɑ̃ /
preposition
Sans.
2
American
abbreviation
Sans.
1
British
abbreviation
sans
2
British
/ sænz /
preposition
Etymology
Origin of sans
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Old French sans, earlier sens, seinz, a conflation of Latin sine “without” and absentiā “in the absence of” (ablative of absentia absence )
Explanation
If you have a friend who hates onions, chances are they order their food at restaurants sans onions — meaning without them. The word sans comes from the French word that means "without." People often use sans in a playful manner or when they want to sound fancy. For example, someone might say, "I'll take my coffee sans cream," to mean they don't want cream. It just sounds a bit more sophisticated.
Vocabulary lists containing sans
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 Ohio beginning, the championship return, the sentimental comic sans coda.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
Still, they’re putting in their usual Qdoba bowl orders—these days, sans the lettuce and even the cilantro.
From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026
Canada has form in Eurovision: appearing for Switzerland, Canadian then-starlet Celine Dion triumphed in 1988 singing "Ne partez pas sans moi", launching her career internationally.
From Barron's ● Jul. 1, 2026
Officers then tracked the owner down at Gate D1 where she was waiting to board her flight, sans pooch.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 23, 2026
He looked like a very young Teddy Roosevelt, sans moustache, about to lead the Rough Riders up San Juan Hill or go out and track a wildebeest or something.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
“Or maybe he just likes Comic Sans. It’s hard to say. Few typefaces are this freighted with public opinion.”
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 10, 2019
Sans., jval, to burn, flame; Icel., kol; Eng., coal; Irish, gual.
From Anahuac : or, Mexico and the Mexicans, Ancient and Modern by Edward Burnett Tylor
Sans., mahat, great; manh or mah, to grow.
From Anahuac : or, Mexico and the Mexicans, Ancient and Modern by Edward Burnett Tylor
Sans., medh, to understand; mati, thought, mind; Greek root math.
From Anahuac : or, Mexico and the Mexicans, Ancient and Modern by Edward Burnett Tylor
Compare Sans., bãla, boy, child; bhri, to bear children, &c.
From Anahuac : or, Mexico and the Mexicans, Ancient and Modern by Edward Burnett Tylor
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.
