cession: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Legal, Diplomatic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “cession” mean?
The act of giving up rights, property, or territory by one state, government, or person to another.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of giving up rights, property, or territory by one state, government, or person to another.
A formal surrender or relinquishing of something, often as part of a treaty or legal agreement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both varieties use the term identically in formal contexts.
Connotations
Conveys formality and finality. Strongly associated with legal and historical discourse.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and formal in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “cession” in a Sentence
the cession of [territory/rights/property] to [entity][entity]'s cession of [something]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cession” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The defeated nation was forced to cede the territory.
American English
- The company agreed to cede control of the project.
adverb
British English
- The territory was transferred cessionarily, as per the treaty.
American English
- The rights were assigned cessionarily to the new owner.
adjective
British English
- The cessionary state gained significant land.
American English
- They signed the cessionary agreement under duress.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in high-level contracts regarding the transfer of intellectual property rights.
Academic
Common in history, political science, and law papers discussing territorial changes or treaties.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Unlikely to be used in casual conversation.
Technical
Specific use in insurance (reinsurance cession) and international law.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cession”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cession”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cession”
- Misspelling as 'session'.
- Using in informal contexts where 'giving up' or 'handing over' would be more natural.
- Incorrect plural: 'cessions' (correct) not 'cession'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Cession' is the noun for the act of ceding. 'Cede' is the verb. 'Cession' is the formal result or process; 'to cede' is the action.
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word used primarily in legal, historical, and diplomatic writing.
It is highly unusual and stylistically jarring. One would say 'I gave up my seat' not 'I made a cession of my seat'.
A 'cessionary' (noun) is the party to whom something is ceded, the receiver. It can also be an adjective meaning 'related to cession'.
The act of giving up rights, property, or territory by one state, government, or person to another.
Cession is usually formal, legal, diplomatic, historical in register.
Cession: in British English it is pronounced /ˈseʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈseʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms specifically with 'cession'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CONCESSION' (giving something up) and remove 'con-' to get the formal act of giving up: CESSION.
Conceptual Metaphor
TERRITORY/POWER AS A COMMODITY THAT CAN BE FORMALLY TRANSFERRED.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'cession' MOST appropriately used?