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• sans
  sans

  preposition

  without.
• Sans.
  Sans.

  abbreviation

  Sanskrit.

sans

¹ American  

[sanz, sahn] / sænz, sɑ̃ /

preposition

1. without.

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Sans. ² American  

abbreviation

1. Sanskrit.

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Sans. ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Sanskrit

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sans ² British  

/ sænz /

preposition

1. an archaic word for without

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sans Sans.

You can find quirky kitty tchotchkes, funny feline-themed mugs and hats with cats on them, as well as a vast array of vintage pop culture items, clothing and jewelry sans cats.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026

The Ohio beginning, the championship return, the sentimental comic sans coda.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 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

With “F.I.G” — Scott’s debut studio album that’s an acronym for “Fall Into Grace” — she establishes her unique sound, sans playing one specific character.

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

Two years later Messner silenced all doubters, moreover, by traveling to the Tibetan side of Everest and making another ascent sans gas—this time entirely alone, without the support of Sherpas or anybody else.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

“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

The Aryan root is pod-, which appears in Sans. pūd, Gr. ποῦς, ποδός and Lat. pes, pedis.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5 "Fleury, Claude" to "Foraker" by Various

Sans., medh, to understand; mati, thought,     mind; Greek root math.

From Anahuac : or, Mexico and the Mexicans, Ancient and Modern by Edward Burnett Tylor

Related Words

• bare
• barren
• lacking
• vacant