adjournment
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
The act of formally suspending a meeting, court session, or proceeding for a later time or date.
The period of time during which such a meeting, session, or proceeding is suspended; an official pause or recess in formal proceedings.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically implies a temporary halt with the intention to resume, often used in parliamentary, legal, and official meeting contexts. Suggests a structured, planned break rather than an abrupt stop.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, but slightly more common in official British parliamentary procedure (Hansard). In US legal contexts, 'recess' may be used more informally for shorter breaks.
Connotations
In both, carries connotations of formal procedure, authority, and official decision-making.
Frequency
Similar frequency in formal registers in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[The + NOUN] called for an adjournment.[We + VERB] moved/sought/requested an adjournment.The [MEETING/COURT] went into adjournment.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Adjournment sine die (without setting a date to resume)”
- “The house rose at the adjournment.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board approved an adjournment until next quarter to review the financial data.
Academic
A motion for adjournment was debated at the academic senate meeting.
Everyday
(Less common) The meeting's adjournment meant we could all go home early.
Technical
The judge granted an adjournment to allow the defence time to examine new evidence.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The committee will adjourn the meeting until next week.
- MPs voted to adjourn the debate.
American English
- The judge decided to adjourn the trial.
- We need to adjourn this discussion and revisit it tomorrow.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard) The meeting ended adjournly. (INCORRECT – use 'the meeting was adjourned').
American English
- (Not standard) They left adjourningly. (INCORRECT – use 'upon adjournment, they left').
adjective
British English
- (Rare as adjective) The adjournment period was filled with lobbying.
- (As part of compound) The adjournment debate can be lively.
American English
- (Rare as adjective) The adjournment motion passed.
- The court's adjournment schedule was posted.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The meeting finished. We can go home.
- The meeting ended early, so we finished our work.
- Following a motion from the chair, the committee agreed to an adjournment until Friday.
- The defence counsel's request for an adjournment was denied by the judge, who insisted the trial proceed.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'AD-JOURN-ment' as adding another JOURNey to the meeting – a formal journey to a later time.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROCEDURAL EVENTS ARE TRAVEL (e.g., 'the meeting was adjourned until Tuesday' maps to 'the journey was paused until Tuesday').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'отложение' (which implies putting aside). 'Перерыв' (break) or 'перенос заседания' (postponement of a session) are closer in formal contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'adjournment' for an informal coffee break (too formal).
- Confusing with 'adjourn' (verb) – 'adjournment' is the noun form of the action/state.
- Incorrectly capitalising it unless part of an official title.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'adjournment' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Adjournment' specifically refers to the formal suspension of an already-started meeting or proceeding, intending to resume it later. 'Postponement' is broader and can mean delaying the start of something entirely.
It is highly marked as formal. Using it for a casual gathering would sound humorous or pretentious. 'Break' or 'let's stop here' are more natural.
It's Latin for 'without a day'. It means the meeting or proceeding is suspended indefinitely, with no specific date set for it to resume.
The verb ('they adjourned the meeting') is the action. The noun ('the adjournment lasted a week') is the resulting state or period. Both are formal.
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