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suspension

suh-SPEN-shun /səˈspenʃn/

nounB2IELTSTOEFL

formallegal

The temporary withdrawal of a driver's license or driving privileges for a specific period of time.

Emphasizes that driving privileges are temporarily paused and can be restored once conditions or timeframes are met.

The story behind the word. Literally meaning 'hanging beneath', 'suspensio' referred to suspending something in mid-air so that it remained unattached to solid ground. In legal terminology, it came to mean holding a right or privilege 'in the air'—neither active nor completely destroyed.

Word relationships

pause: Pause is informal and brief, while suspension is a formal legal deactivation of a privilege.

reinstatement: Reinstatement restores privileges, whereas suspension removes them temporarily.

Commonly confused with

revocation: Suspension is temporary and easily restored after a set term; revocation completely voids the license, requiring re-application.

Word family

suspend (verb): To temporarily de-authorize or pause.
suspended (adjective): Temporarily inactive or de-authorized.

Collocations

license suspension
temporary suspension
face a suspension
lift a suspension

Example sentences

"Accumulating twelve points on your driving record results in a mandatory six-month driver license suspension." Administrative Penalty
"During his license suspension, the motorist was forbidden from operating any motor vehicle on public roads." Legal Sanctions

Memory hook

SUSPENDED driving privilege is HANGING in the air until the period ends. SUSPENSION = temporary hold.

When not to use

Do not use 'suspension' when driving privileges are permanently terminated; use 'revocation' for permanent cancellation.

Fun facts

In many states, failing to pay court fines or child support can trigger an administrative driver's license suspension even without driving violations.