suspension

[ suh-spen-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of suspending.

   Synonyms: hiatus, abeyance, cessation, discontinuance, interruption, intermission

2. the state of being suspended.

   Synonyms: hiatus, abeyance, cessation, discontinuance, interruption, intermission

3. temporary abrogation or withholding, as of a law, privilege, decision, belief, etc.

   Synonyms: hiatus, abeyance, cessation, discontinuance, interruption, intermission

4. stoppage of payment of debts or claims because of financial inability or insolvency.
5. Chemistry.
   1. the state in which the particles of a substance are mixed with a fluid but are undissolved.
   2. a substance in such a state.
6. Physical Chemistry. a system consisting of small particles kept dispersed by agitation mechanical suspension or by the molecular motion in the surrounding medium colloidal suspension.
7. something on or by which something else is suspended or hung.
8. something that is suspended or hung.
9. Also called suspension system. the arrangement of springs, shock absorbers, hangers, etc., in an automobile, railway car, etc., connecting the wheel-suspension units or axles to the chassis frame.
10. Electricity. a wire, filament, or group of wires by which the conducting part of an instrument or device is suspended.
11. Music.
    1. the prolongation of a tone in one chord into the following chord, usually producing a temporary dissonance.
    2. the tone so prolonged.
12. Rhetoric. the heightening of interest by delay of the main subject or clause, especially by means of a series of parallel preceding elements.

suspension

/ səˈspɛnʃən /

noun

1. an interruption or temporary revocation

   the suspension of a law

2. a temporary debarment, as from position, privilege, etc
3. a deferment, esp of a decision, judgment, etc
4. law
   1. a postponement of execution of a sentence or the deferring of a judgment, etc
   2. a temporary extinguishment of a right or title
5. cessation of payment of business debts, esp as a result of insolvency
6. the act of suspending or the state of being suspended
7. a system of springs, shock absorbers, etc, that supports the body of a wheeled or tracked vehicle and insulates it and its occupants from shocks transmitted by the wheels See also hydraulic suspension
8. a device or structure, usually a wire or spring, that serves to suspend or support something, such as the pendulum of a clock
9. chem a dispersion of fine solid or liquid particles in a fluid, the particles being supported by buoyancy See also colloid
10. the process by which eroded particles of rock are transported in a river
11. music one or more notes of a chord that are prolonged until a subsequent chord is sounded, usually to form a dissonance

suspension

/ sə-spĕn′shən /

1. A mixture in which small particles of a substance are dispersed throughout a gas or liquid. If a suspension is left undisturbed, the particles are likely to settle to the bottom. The particles in a suspension are larger than those in either a colloid or a solution. Muddy water is an example of a suspension.
2. Compare colloid

Other Words From

• nonsus·pension noun
• presus·pension noun
• resus·pension noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of suspension¹

1520–30; < Latin suspēnsiōn- (stem of suspēnsiō ), equivalent to suspēns ( us ) ( suspense ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

The combination of visuals and the audio and the haptics of the seats — all of those things were brought to bear to try and basically turn on its head the whole idea of suspension of disbelief, so that you’re having to remind yourself that it’s not real, as opposed to pretending that it is.

From Los Angeles Times

The suspension order would be reviewed after 12 months, the panel said.

From BBC

“Rural roads make up about 60% of my journeys, and they are continuously eroding and wearing on the vehicle’s suspension and it’s causing ongoing damage to the buses.”

From BBC

Alpine will also use Mercedes-supplied gearboxes and rear suspension from 2026, although the team are exploring their options to design these items in-house form 2027.

From BBC

Three players returning from injury — defender Chris Richards, midfielder Johnny Cardoso and forward Tim Weah — will rejoin the team this week although Weah will sit out Thursday’s game with a red card suspension carried over from the Copa América.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• break
• freeze
• halt
• interruption
• layoff
• moratorium
• period
• postponement
• stoppage
• termination