# Sans

/ˈsænz/ (US) · /sˈænz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sans
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. without something

preposition · CEFR C1 · Literary · Humorous

a fancy or funny way to say 'without'.

For teachers: without; lacking. Often used in literary contexts or to create a mock-serious tone when something expected is absent.

- He arrived at the formal dinner sans tie, looking much too casual.
- The protagonist wandered the desolate streets sans hope, a stylistic choice by the author to emphasize his total isolation.

Usage: Usually placed directly before the noun it modifies without an article.

Teaching tip: Learners should use this sparingly; it can sound pretentious if used in everyday conversation without a clear humorous intent.

## Examples

- He arrived at the party sans his usual tie.
- The new apartment was beautiful but came sans furniture, so we had to sleep on the floor.
- The final act of the play depicts the character in old age, famously described as being sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, and sans everything.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.