sufferance

noun

suf·​fer·​ance ˈsə-f(ə-)rən(t)s 

1

: patient endurance

2

: pain, misery

3

: consent or sanction implied by a lack of interference or failure to enforce a prohibition

4

: endurance sense 1

Synonyms

• allowance
• authorization
• clearance
• concurrence
• consent
• granting
• green light
• leave
• license
• licence
• permission
• sanction
• warrant

Examples of sufferance in a Sentence

was pointedly reminded that he was at the private beach on sufferance and could be kicked out at any time

spending a whole day with my airheaded sister-in-law is beyond sufferance

Recent Examples on the Web

Matchday was a sufferance, the opposite of life-affirming. —George Caulkin, The Athletic, 10 July 2024

Through his cult of personality, Modi is fulfilling a century-old project, recasting India as a Hindu nation, in which minorities, particularly Muslims, live at the sufferance of the majority. —Samanth Subramanian Vikas Adam Tanya Pérez Zachary Mouton, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2024

The Kirk Douglas, the smallest of the company’s three venues and ostensibly the most experimental, is the scrappy Culver City orphan, living at the sufferance of its older siblings at L.A.’s Music Center. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2023

Air India’s nationalization signaled that in independent India private enterprise would survive on the government’s sufferance. —Sadanand Dhume, WSJ, 14 Oct. 2021

In the music of Beethoven, there is such an ethical, moral integrity … and power and sufferance. —Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 10 Sep. 2019

Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. —Thomas Jefferson Et Al, Cincinnati.com, 4 July 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle English suffraunce, sufferaunce "affliction, endurance," borrowed from Anglo-French suffrance, suffraunce, borrowed from Late Latin sufferentia "endurance," from Latin sufferent-, sufferens, present participle of sufferre "to submit to, endure" + -ia -ia entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sufferance

• on sufferance

Kids Definition

sufferance

noun

suf·​fer·​ance ˈsəf-(ə-)rən(t)s 

1

: consent or approval implied by a lack of interference or failure to enforce a prohibition

2

: power or ability to put up with

Legal Definition

sufferance

noun

suf·​fer·​ance ˈsə-frəns, -fə-rəns 

: consent or sanction implied by a lack of interference or failure to enforce a prohibition see also estate at sufferance at estate sense 1, tenancy at sufferance at tenancy