What does pursuance mean?
Pursuance is a formal noun meaning the act of pursuing, following, or actively advancing an objective. It can describe a literal chase, as in the pursuance of a suspect, but it is also used for persistent efforts to achieve a political, legal, or practical aim. The best-established expression is “in pursuance of,” meaning during the process of carrying out an action or in accordance with a specified course. The word often conveys determination, continuity, and institutional or official purpose. It is related to pursue and pursuit, and its elevated tone makes it especially suitable for legal documents, historical writing, formal reports, and diplomatic language. In ordinary conversation, however, “pursuit” or “continuation” will often sound more natural.
nounThe action of pursuing, pursuing a course of action, or seeking to attain a goal. It is most commonly used in the formal phrase “in pursuance of,” meaning “in the course of pursuing” or “in accordance with.”
- The action or process of pursuing, chasing, or following.
- The continued carrying out or advancement of a course, aim, or undertaking.
"The committee continued its work in pursuance of the original mandate."
"The officers were charged with the pursuance of the investigation."
"The treaty was signed in pursuance of the agreement reached at Geneva."
Plural forms are rare because the word is most often used in the fixed phrase “in pursuance of.”
"The organisation documented several separate pursuances of its stated aims."
A legal phrase from the battlefield: “in pursuance of” literally means while following someone or something onward.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pursuance come from?
Pursuance derives from pursue through the Old French noun pours(e)our, meaning a pursuit or the act of following. The English verb pursue comes through Anglo-French similarly, ultimately from Latin prosequi, formed from pro-, meaning “forward,” and sequi, meaning “to follow.” The modern form pursuance reflects the English suffix -ance attached to a stem associated with pursuing. Its strongest traditional use is in the legal and formal phrase “in pursuance of.”
How pursuance is actually used
Formal and somewhat literary. In contemporary usage it is especially common in the fixed expression “in pursuance of”; outside that phrase, “pursuit” is usually more natural.
Easily confused with pursuance
Pursuance means actively pursuing or following through on something, whereas persuasion means trying to convince someone by argument or reasoning.
Pursuance is a general word for pursuing a goal or course of action, while prosecution specifically refers to legal proceedings or an energetic effort to expose wrongdoing.