1
: the act of suspending : the state or period of being suspended: such as
a
: temporary removal (as from office or privileges)
b
: temporary withholding (as of belief or decision)
c
: temporary abrogation of a law or rule
d(1)
: the holding over of one or more musical tones of a chord into the following chord producing a momentary discord and suspending the concord which the ear expects
specifically : such a dissonance which resolves downward compare anticipation, retardation
(2)
: the tone thus held over
e
: stoppage of payment of business obligations : failure
used especially of a business or a bank
f
: a rhetorical device whereby the principal idea is deferred to the end of a sentence or longer unit
2
a
: the act of hanging : the state of being hung
b(1)
: the state of a substance when its particles are mixed with but undissolved in a fluid or solid
(2)
: a substance in this state
(3)
: a system consisting of a solid dispersed in a solid, liquid, or gas usually in particles of larger than colloidal size compare emulsion
3
: something suspended
4
: the means by which something is suspended
especially : the system of devices (such as springs) supporting the upper part of a vehicle on the axles

Examples of suspension in a Sentence

He was angry about his suspension from the team. His record shows several suspensions from school. He's under suspension for breaking the rules. a suspension of the rules She was punished by suspension of her driver's license.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 12 shots for the Panthers, who continue to play without key stars Matthew Tkachuk (groin), Aaron Ekblad (suspension) and recent acquisition Brad Marchand (upper-body injury). Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2025 The first group of 10 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba and North Korea among others, would be set for a full visa suspension. Humeyra Pamuk, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2025 In calmer areas areas, particularly where there is lots of sediment suspended in the water (such as within the Humber estuary and parts of the Wash), there may be potential for contaminants to adhere to fine particles in suspension and subsequently sink to the seabed. Lauren Lowman, WIRED, 15 Mar. 2025 His appointee as chief executive for U.S. Agency for Global Media embarked on a series of suspensions, visa revocations and investigations that were found, in some instances, to violate the law and federal policy. David Folkenflik, NPR, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suspension

Word History

Etymology

Middle English suspensyon, from Anglo-French suspension, from Late Latin suspension-, suspensio, from Latin suspendere

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of suspension was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Suspension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suspension. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

suspension

noun
1
a
: the act or an instance of suspending
b
: the state of being suspended
c
: the period during which someone or something is suspended
2
: the act of hanging : the state of being hung
3
: the state of a substance when its particles are mixed with but not dissolved in a fluid or solid
also : a substance in this state
4
: something suspended
5
: the system of devices (as springs) supporting the upper part of a vehicle on the axles

Medical Definition

suspension

noun
1
a
: the state of a substance when its particles are mixed with but undissolved in a fluid or solid
b
: a substance in this state see oral suspension
2
: a system consisting of a solid dispersed in a solid, liquid, or gas usually in particles of larger than colloidal size

Legal Definition

suspension

noun
sus·​pen·​sion
: the act of suspending : the state or period of being suspended
the suspension of an employee

More from Merriam-Webster on suspension

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