noun

adjournment

uh-JURN-munt/əˈdʒɜːrnmənt/

The suspension or ending of a meeting or proceeding.

The empty meeting table and closed documents mark the session's adjournment.

Empty meeting table and chairs after session is paused, clock and closed documents.

Etymology

adOld Frenchto

+journOld Frenchday

+mentOld Frenchact or result

The “to a day” image concerns appointing a later meeting. Adjournment names the resulting postponement or suspension; as adjourn also came to mean closing a meeting, the noun could name its ending.

In context

Court Archives8:37

we're going to allow them some time to do that. We just wanted to request like a three-week adjournment if we could.

LANDLORD ACCUSES Tenant of FRAUD - She Doesn't Even Live Here! | Eviction Court

More examples

A short adjournment allowed the lawyers to confer.
The motion for adjournment passed.
They left the chamber after the adjournment.

Forms

adjournment · adjournments

adjourn verb — suspend or end a meeting

Similar words

recess: A recess is a temporary break; adjournment can suspend proceedings until another day or end the session.
suspension: Suspension is a broad interruption; adjournment specifically concerns a meeting or proceeding.