postponement
C1Formal, official, and professional
Definition
Meaning
The act of arranging for something to take place at a later time than originally scheduled.
A formal delay or deferral of an event, decision, or obligation. It implies a temporary putting off, not a cancellation. In legal contexts, it can refer to the adjournment of a court hearing.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The noun implies intention and arrangement, not mere procrastination. It often carries a neutral or slightly negative connotation of inconvenience. It is more formal than 'delay'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Both varieties use 'postponement' and the verb 'to postpone'.
Connotations
Neutral to slightly negative (inconvenience) in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in formal British contexts (e.g., council/government announcements), but the difference is minimal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
postponement of [NOUN PHRASE]postponement until [TIME]postponement due to [REASON]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “kick the can down the road”
- “put on the back burner”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The postponement of the board meeting was due to a lack of a quorum.
Academic
The study noted the psychological effects of the indefinite postponement of the exams.
Everyday
The match is off – they've announced a postponement because of the rain.
Technical
The project faces a six-week postponement due to supply chain disruptions.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They've had to postpone the wedding until next summer.
- The council postponed the decision for further consultation.
American English
- We need to postpone the launch until the software is ready.
- The judge postponed the trial at the defense's request.
adjective
British English
- The postponed match has been rescheduled for Tuesday.
- They sent out postponed notices to all attendees.
American English
- The postponed event will now be held in the fall.
- We received a postponed start date for the project.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The game was cancelled because of rain.
- There was a last-minute postponement of the flight.
- The postponement was announced on their website.
- The committee requested a postponement of the deadline to allow for more research.
- Further postponement of the reforms could damage economic confidence.
- The indefinite postponement of the peace talks led to a surge in diplomatic tensions.
- Investors reacted negatively to the postponement of the IPO, citing market uncertainty.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'POST' (after) + 'PONE' (from Latin 'ponere', to place) + 'MENT'. You are placing something AFTER its original time.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE (that can be rescheduled); FUTURE IS AHEAD (postponement pushes it further ahead).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid calquing 'перенос' literally as 'carrying over'. Use 'postponement' or 'delay'.
- Do not confuse with 'откладывание' when it means 'saving money' – that is 'saving up'.
Common Mistakes
- Wrong spelling: 'postponment' (missing 'e').
- Using 'postponement of doing something' (incorrect). Correct: 'postponement of something' or 'postponing doing something'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'postponement' in a formal business context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Postponement means moving to a later time. Cancellation means it will not happen at all.
'Postponement' is more formal and implies an active decision to reschedule. 'Delay' can be more general, often implying an unplanned, passive hold-up.
No. Use the noun form: 'postponement of the meeting'. If you need the verb, say 'postponing holding the meeting'.
'Postponement until [date/time]' is standard. 'Postponement to' is less common but sometimes used ('postponement to a later date').
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