Word
postponement
Phoneticspost·pone·ment, stress on the second syllable
US/poʊˈspoʊnmənt/
UK/pəʊstpˈəʊnmənt/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the act of moving a planned event to a later time or date.
n. the action of rescheduling an event or action to occur at a later time than originally intended.
Examples
“The rain caused a postponement of the match.”
“The committee requested a postponement of the vote until all members could review the new evidence.”
“The repeated postponement of the infrastructure project has led to significant budget overruns and growing frustration among the local residents who rely on the current bridge.”
Examples
simple
“The rain caused a postponement of the match.”
contextual
“The committee requested a postponement of the vote until all members could review the new evidence.”
complex
“The repeated postponement of the infrastructure project has led to significant budget overruns and growing frustration among the local residents who rely on the current bridge.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general act of delaying; countable when referring to a specific instance of a delay.
Real-World Examples
“Currently, a general election is scheduled for December of this year, after multiple postponements.” “Negotiators on both sides, however, have sought to stop Trump’s latest round of tariffs from taking effect, achieving a postponement from a previous deadline on Wednesday.” Etymology
From postpone + -ment.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/postponement