Adjournment

noun

/əˈdʒɜːn.mənt/

A temporary suspension of the sitting of a House by the presiding officer, which may be for a specified time (hours, days, or weeks) and does not terminate the session or kill pending business.

⚠️ UPSC confused pair — don't mix up with Prorogation, Dissolution

Adjournment ends a sitting and lies with the presiding officer; prorogation ends a session by order of the President (Article 85(2)(a)); dissolution ends the life of the Lok Sabha itself — the Rajya Sabha is never dissolved — and pending business lapses.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

While an adjournment merely suspends a sitting of the House, the routine adjournment of Parliament amid disruptions erodes its deliberative character and weakens legislative scrutiny of the executive.

Synonyms

postponementsuspensiondefermentrecessdeferralprorogation (of a session)

Antonyms

resumptioncontinuationconveningcommencement

🌱 Word Family

adjourn (v), adjourned (adj), adjourning (v pres.p), adjournment (n)

🔡 Root

Old French à = to + jour = day (from Latin diurnum = daily) → ajourner = to put off to another day

📜 Etymology

From Middle English ajournement, via Old French ajourner ("to put off to another day"), from à ("to") + jour ("day"), ultimately from Latin diurnum ("daily").

🧠 Memory Hook

Spot the French 'jour' (day) inside ad-JOURN-ment: an adjournment says "we meet on another day" — proceedings put off to a later jour.

📝 Seen in UPSC Question Papers

Prelims 2017 — Parliament
Prelims 2014 — Parliament
Prelims 2012 — Parliament

Real UPSC previous-year questions whose text uses “Adjournment” — proof this word earns its place on your list.

⚖️ Polity & Constitution 📖 Seen in: Indian Parliament — Structure, Powers ...

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