What does continuance mean?
"Continuance" is a formal noun denoting the state of continuing — the fact that something persists in existence, action, or effect over time. One might speak of the continuance of peace, of a tradition, or of good health, emphasizing unbroken duration rather than resumption after interruption (the province of its cousin "continuation"). The word has a second, highly specific life in law: a continuance is the postponement of a trial or hearing to a later date, granted at the discretion of a judge, often upon request by counsel needing more preparation time. Derived from Latin roots meaning "to hold together" via Old French "continuer," it entered English in the late medieval period. Today it is chiefly found in legal documents, official writing, and literary prose, lending any sentence a tone of gravity and formality.
The state or fact of continuing in existence or action; persistence or duration over time.
"The continuance of the festival for over two centuries testifies to the town's devotion."
Formal register; often used in phrases like "the continuance of."
(Law) A postponement or adjournment of a trial or hearing to a later date.
"The defense requested a continuance after their lead witness fell ill."
Standard term in American legal practice; British English tends to prefer "adjournment."
Rarely pluralized except in legal contexts, where multiple postponements of proceedings may be counted.
"The case had already been delayed by three continuances before the trial finally began."
In American courts, lawyers literally file a "motion for continuance" — making this everyday word one of the most powerful tools in the legal system: it can push a trial weeks into the future.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of continuance
"Continuance" derives from the Latin verb "continuare," meaning "to join together or make continuous," itself built from "continuus" (uninterrupted), from "continere," "to hold together." It entered English via Anglo-Norman and Old French "continuance" in the fourteenth century, initially with broad senses of persistence and duration. Its specialized legal sense of postponing a proceeding developed as English courts adopted French-derived terminology, and cognates such as "continuation" and "continuity" share the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How continuance is actually used
"Continuance" carries a formal register and appears most often in legal, official, or elevated prose; ordinary speech typically prefers "continuation." In legal usage, especially in American courts, it is the established term for delaying a proceeding. The word can sound slightly archaic or literary when used outside these contexts.
Easily confused with continuance
"Continuation" is the general act of carrying something on after an interruption or pause, while "continuance" emphasizes ongoing existence or duration and is the standard term for postponing a court proceeding.