Meaning & use
pursuance
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Meaning
noununcountableformallegal
The act of carrying out a plan, duty, or aim, especially in a formal or legal context.
Grammar: Used mainly in the phrase 'in pursuance of something'; it does not take 'a' or a plural.
Patterns
- in pursuance of something
The contract was signed in pursuance of the agreement reached last month.
She acted in pursuance of her duties as a company director.
In pursuance of its environmental policy, the city banned plastic bags.
Common combinations
- in pursuance of
- He was acting in pursuance of a court order.
- in pursuance of a duty
- The officer spoke in pursuance of his duty.
- in pursuance of an aim
- The reforms were introduced in pursuance of a long-term aim.
Synonyms and how they differ
- implementation
- More common and general; it focuses on putting a plan into action, while 'pursuance' is mostly limited to formal phrases.
- execution
- Often used for carrying out orders or plans, especially legal or technical ones; 'pursuance' is rarer and more abstract.
Word family
Commonly confused: pursuance or pursuit?
pursuance vs pursuit
'Pursuit' is the everyday noun meaning 'the act of chasing or striving for something' (e.g., 'the pursuit of happiness'). 'Pursuance' is a formal legal term used almost only in 'in pursuance of'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'pursuance' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The phrase 'in pursuance of' means 'in order to achieve or carry out' and is used in formal or legal contexts. Option 0 is wrong because 'pursuance' is not used for simple shopping; option 2 confuses it with 'pursuit'; option 3 uses it as a verb, but it is a noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pursuance”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.