# suspension

/səˈspɛnʃən/ (US) · /səspˈɛnʃən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/suspension
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. temporary stop

noun · CEFR B2

the act of stopping or delaying something for a short period of time.

For teachers: the temporary cessation or postponement of an activity, process, or payment.

- The suspension of the train service caused a lot of trouble for commuters.
- The sudden suspension of trade talks led to immediate volatility in the international markets as investors feared a prolonged stalemate.

### 2. disciplinary punishment

noun · CEFR B2

a punishment where a student or worker is told to stay away for a while.

For teachers: a disciplinary measure involving the temporary removal of a person from their position, school, or workplace.

- The player received a three-game suspension for his behavior on the field.
- The board decided that a two-week suspension was a necessary response to the employee's repeated violations of the safety protocol.

### 3. vehicle parts

noun · CEFR B2

the system of springs that helps a car or bike travel smoothly over bumps.

For teachers: the system of springs, shock absorbers, and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels and allows relative motion between the two.

- The old car has a very soft suspension, so you don't feel the bumps in the road.
- Engineers tuned the suspension to provide a balance between high-speed stability and passenger comfort on uneven surfaces.

### 4. chemical mixture

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a liquid that has small pieces of solid mixed in it but not dissolved.

For teachers: a heterogeneous mixture containing solid particles sufficiently large for sedimentation.

- You must shake the medicine well because it is a suspension.
- The laboratory analysis revealed fine particles of silt held in suspension within the water samples collected from the river mouth.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'in'.

### 5. musical note

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

holding a note from one chord into the next to create a temporary tension.

For teachers: a means of creating tension by prolonging a note from a previous chord into a new chord where it is dissonant.

- The composer used a suspension to make the ending of the song feel more emotional.
- The piece reaches its emotional peak through a series of suspensions that delay the final harmonic resolution.

## Examples

- The player received a two-game suspension for his behavior.
- The school board decided on a three-day suspension for the student after he repeatedly broke the safety rules.
- Engineers redesigned the car's rear suspension to improve handling on rough terrain, while the legal team worked to lift the suspension of the company's operating license.

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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.