cession

[ sesh-uhn ]

noun

1. act of ceding, as by treaty.
2. something that is ceded, as territory.

cession

/ ˈsɛʃən /

noun

1. the act of ceding, esp of ceding rights, property, or territory
2. something that is ceded, esp land or territory

Word History and Origins

Origin of cession¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin cessiōn- (stem of cessiō ) a giving up, equivalent to cess ( us ) past participle of cēdere to yield ( ced- perfect stem + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of cession¹

C14: from Latin cessiō, from cēdere to yield

Example Sentences

At the same time, Ukrainian resistance is still strong enough to make any formal cession of territory almost unimaginable.

From New York Times

A colonial civil servant later described the cession of Hong Kong as “a surprise to all concerned.”

From New York Times

About 3,300 Armenian servicemen were killed in the war, and the territorial cessions forced thousands of Armenians to flee their homes.

From Washington Times

The amendments would also proscribe the cession of Russian territory to foreign powers, deepening the conflict over the Kremlin’s annexation of Crimea.

From The Guardian

To expect Congress humbly to ask a court to enforce congressional subpoenas only perpetuates Congress’s cession of its power.

From Washington Post