suspension
noun
sus·pen·sion
sə-ˈspen(t)-shən 
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
Human adipose tissue is processed into small pellets and cultured in suspension, allowing cells to reorganize and differentiate without extensive manipulation.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado served the second of a two-game suspension stemming from his fight on Saturday night with Phoenix's Mark Williams.
—CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
Peppers was removed from the commissioner’s exempt list after seven games, because the baseline suspension for a violation of the personal conduct policy involving the actions for which he was accused is six games.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
It was not immediately known when service would resume or how many passengers were affected by the suspension.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suspension
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Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado served the second of a two-game suspension stemming from his fight on Saturday night with Phoenix's Mark Williams.
—CBS News, 1 Jan. 2026
Peppers was removed from the commissioner’s exempt list after seven games, because the baseline suspension for a violation of the personal conduct policy involving the actions for which he was accused is six games.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
It was not immediately known when service would resume or how many passengers were affected by the suspension.
—Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suspension
Cite this Entry
“Suspension.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suspension. Accessed 4 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
suspension
noun
sus·pen·sion
sə-ˈspen-chən
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
sus·pen·sion
sə-ˈspen-chən
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
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