interposition

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The act of putting something in the space between two other things.

   Grammar: Usually uncountable and often followed by of: the interposition of a screen.

   Patterns

   • the interposition of something between things

   The interposition of a glass panel kept the two rooms quiet.

   Eclipses happen through the interposition of the moon between the sun and the earth.

   The engineer recommended the interposition of a rubber layer.

2. 2noununcountableformal

   The act of stepping in between two sides to stop or settle a quarrel.

   Grammar: Often with of or by: the interposition of a third party.

   Patterns

   • interposition by someone
   • the interposition of someone

   Only the interposition of a neutral mediator ended the dispute.

   The treaty resulted from the interposition of several friendly nations.

   The teacher's interposition prevented a fight.

3. 3noununcountablelegalAmerican

   In US history, a doctrine that a state may block a federal law it considers unconstitutional.

   Grammar: Used as a historical term, often capitalized in discussions of states' rights.

   Patterns

   • the doctrine of interposition

   Southern leaders invoked interposition to resist school integration.

   Historians study interposition as an argument about states' rights.

   Courts rejected the doctrine of interposition.

Word forms

Common combinations

interposition of a third party

The interposition of a third party calmed the talks.

doctrine of interposition

The doctrine of interposition was used to resist federal orders.

physical interposition

The physical interposition of a barrier stopped the flow.

by interposition

Peace was restored by interposition.

Synonyms and how they differ

intervention

Intervention is the common word for stepping into a situation, while interposition adds the picture of standing between two sides.

mediation

Mediation means actively helping both sides reach agreement, whereas interposition may only mean getting in the way.

insertion

Insertion is about placing something into a gap, without the sense of resolving a conflict.

interference

Interference usually suggests unwelcome meddling, and interposition is more neutral.

Opposites

Word family

interpose verb

to place or put in between

interposed adjective

placed between

position noun

the root, meaning where something is placed

interposer noun

a rare word for one who interposes

Commonly confused: interposition or imposition?

Practice

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