What does recommencement mean?
Recommencement means the act of starting again or continuing after something has stopped, been interrupted, or reached a temporary pause. It is especially associated with formal contexts such as legal proceedings, work, operations, negotiations, and hostilities. Unlike “commencement,” which refers to an initial beginning, “recommencement” implies that the activity has already taken place and is now resuming. The word has a precise, institutional tone and is less common in everyday conversation, where “restart” or “resumption” is often preferable. It is useful when describing the deliberate resumption of a process that was delayed, suspended, or temporarily abandoned, rather than simply describing something beginning for the first time.
nounThe act of starting again or resuming after an interruption, pause, or discontinuation.
- The act of beginning again or resuming after an interruption.
"The recommencement of the meeting was delayed by technical problems."
"The court ordered the recommencement of proceedings the following morning."
"With the funding secured, the team prepared for the recommencement of construction."
The singular form is far more common; the plural is used mainly when referring to separate resumptions.
"The report documented several recommencements of the inquiry."
A recommencement is not the first beginning: it is the moment an interrupted story, project, or process finds its way back into motion.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does recommencement come from?
“Recommencement” was borrowed into English from French “recommencement,” a noun formed from “recommencer,” meaning to begin again. The French word combines the prefix “re-” with a form related to Latin “cominciare,” “incipere,” and “initium,” all associated with beginning. English “commence,” “commencement,” and “initial” belong to the same broad etymological family, while “recommencement” specifically adds the idea of beginning again.
Related word forms
How recommencement is actually used
This is a formal word, especially common in legal, political, institutional, and administrative contexts. In ordinary speech, “restart” or “resumption” is usually more natural.
Easily confused with recommencement
Commencement means the beginning of an activity, whereas recommencement means a fresh start or resumption after it has already begun or been interrupted.