What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
adjournment
Example
The judge granted an adjournment until the following week. [adjournment: noun]
Example
Let's adjourn this meeting and reconvene tomorrow morning. [adjourn: verb]
postponement
Example
The concert has been postponed until next month. [postponement: noun]
Example
We need to postpone the meeting until next week due to scheduling conflicts. [postpone: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Postponement is more commonly used than adjournment in everyday language. Postponement is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while adjournment is less common and typically used in legal or parliamentary settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between adjournment and postponement?
Both adjournment and postponement can be used in formal or informal contexts. However, adjournment is more commonly associated with formal settings, while postponement can be used in both formal and informal contexts.