French word

sursis

Pronunciation

IPA/syʁsi/

Meaning

  • masculine nounreprieve

Example

On lui a accordé un sursis.

He was granted a reprieve.

Illustration for sursis (reprieve)

More examples

Il a été condamné à une peine avec sursis.

He was sentenced, with the sentence suspended.

Core concept

An authorized delay that keeps a punishment or ruling from taking effect immediately.

Common phrases

  • accorder un sursis

    grant a reprieve

  • peine avec sursis

    suspended sentence

Similar words

report: A postponement that moves a planned date or deadline later.
délai: Time allowed before a deadline for completing something.

Definition in French

Mesure qui suspend l'exécution d'une peine ou d'une décision, parfois soumise à des conditions.

Word origin

Sursis is formed from the past participle sursis of surseoir, a verb inherited through Old French from Latin supersedere.

Usage tips

  • In sursis, the final s is pronounced, so the word sounds like /syʁ.si/.

Other meanings

  • suspended sentencenoun
  • postponementnoun

Opposites

  • exécutionexecutionnoun
  • peine fermecustodial sentencenoun

Word lists with this word