suspensive

UK: /səˈspɛnsɪv/ US: (sə spen′siv)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

sus•pen•sive  (sə spen′siv), adj. 

1. pertaining to or characterized by suspension.
2. undecided in mind.
3. pertaining to or characterized by suspense.
4. (of words, phrases, etc.) characterized by or expressing suspense;
   keeping the reader or listener in suspense.
5. having the effect of suspending the operation of something.

• Medieval Latin suspēnsīvus, equivalent. to suspēns(us) (see suspense) + -īvus -ive
• 1540–50

sus•pen′sive•ly, adv. 
sus•pen′sive•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

suspensive / səˈspɛnsɪv/ adjective

1. having the power of deferment; effecting suspension
2. causing, characterized by, or relating to suspense

susˈpensively adverb

susˈpensiveness noun