What does temporisation mean?
Temporisation means delaying action or avoiding a decision in order to gain time, postpone a difficult issue, or retain flexibility. It is especially associated with political and diplomatic negotiations, where it can describe tactics that postpone negotiations without resolving the underlying dispute. The term can also refer more generally to procrastination, although it often implies a deliberate or strategic delay rather than simple forgetfulness or poor organization. Temporisation is predominantly a British English word; American dictionaries generally use "temporization." Its tone is often critical: to describe a postponement neutrally, a speaker may prefer words such as "delay" or "postponement," while "temporisation" frequently implies evasion or caution. The word is useful because it captures the calculated quality of waiting. Simply delaying a decision is one thing, but temporisation describes delay used strategically, often in the hope that circumstances, negotiations, or competing interests will change for the better.
nounThe act of delaying action or decision-making, especially when used to avoid dealing with a difficult issue or to gain time. It can also refer more broadly to procrastination or postponement.
- Deliberate delay in taking action or reaching a decision, especially in political, diplomatic, or contentious circumstances.
"Talks stalled as both sides resorted to temporisation rather than confronting the outstanding disputes."
"The committee was accused of using temporisation to avoid publishing its findings."
"After months of legal temporisation, the company finally agreed to compensate the affected customers."
Rare in modern usage; temporisation is normally used as an uncountable noun.
"Repeated legal temporisations frustrated the applicants."
Born from Latin for “time,” temporisation turns a strategic pause into an art form.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does temporisation come from?
Temporisation derives from Medieval Latin "temporizatio," a noun formed from Latin "temporizare," meaning to delay or postpone. Both forms ultimately relate to Latin "tempus," meaning time, and are connected with words such as "temporary," "temporal," and "contemporary." English later established "temporization," while "temporisation" became the standard British spelling.
Related word forms
How temporisation is actually used
The word is formal and commonly critical in tone, suggesting that delay is evasive or intended to preserve options. In US English, "temporization" is the standard spelling.