Suspend vs. Terminate: What's the Difference?
By Aimie Carlson & Janet White || Updated on May 23, 2024
Suspend means to temporarily halt an activity or process, while terminate means to permanently end it.
Key Differences
Suspend means to temporarily halt an activity, allowing for the possibility of resumption in the future. For example, an employee might be suspended for a few weeks pending an investigation. Terminate, on the other hand, implies a permanent end to an activity or relationship, such as when an employee is terminated, meaning they are permanently dismissed from their job.
Suspension is often used in situations where a temporary halt is necessary, with the expectation that normal activities will resume once the conditions causing the suspension are resolved. For instance, a project may be suspended until funding is secured. Termination, in contrast, is final and leaves no room for continuation or resumption, as in terminating a contract, which means the agreement is completely nullified.
In a legal context, suspension can occur when a court order is temporarily paused, allowing for further review or appeal. This contrasts with termination, where a court order or legal agreement is completely dissolved, leaving no further obligations or connections between the parties involved.
In employment, suspension might be used as a disciplinary measure where an employee is temporarily removed from their duties with the potential for reinstatement. Termination, however, is a more severe action where the employment relationship is ended entirely, and the employee will no longer return to their position.
Comparison Chart
Duration
Temporary halt
Permanent end
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Future Resumption
Possible resumption
No resumption
Common Contexts
Disciplinary actions, legal proceedings
Employment, contracts, services
Severity
Less severe
More severe
Employment Example
Employee temporarily removed
Employee permanently dismissed
Suspend and Terminate Definitions
Suspend
To defer or delay an action.
The judge suspended the sentence for two years.
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Terminate
To dismiss someone from their job.
The manager had to terminate the employee for violating company policy.
Suspend
To temporarily prevent someone from participating in an activity.
The player was suspended for three games due to misconduct.
Terminate
To bring something to an end.
The company decided to terminate the project.
Suspend
To hang something from somewhere.
The chandelier was suspended from the ceiling.
Terminate
To end a pregnancy.
The doctor discussed options to terminate the pregnancy.
Suspend
To bar for a period from a privilege, office, or position, usually as a punishment
Suspend a student from school.
Terminate
To bring to an end or halt
"His action terminated the most hopeful period of reform in Prussian history" (Gordon A. Craig).
Suspend
To cause to stop for a period; interrupt
Suspended the trial.
Terminate
To occur at or form the end of; conclude or finish
A display of fireworks that terminated the festivities.
Suspend
To halt something temporarily.
The meeting was suspended for lunch.
Terminate
To discontinue the employment of; dismiss
A company that terminated 300 workers.
Suspend
To hold in an undetermined or undecided state.
Terminate
To murder or assassinate (someone).
Suspend
To discontinue or interrupt a function, task, position, or event.
To suspend a thread of execution in a computer program
Terminate
To come to an end; reach a stopping point
The oil pipeline terminates at a shipping port. The negotiations terminated with a celebration.
Suspend
To hang freely; underhang.
To suspend a ball by a thread
Terminate
To form an end or produce a result. Often used with in
"The Peloponnesian war ... terminated in the ruin of the Athenian commonwealth" (Alexander Hamilton).
Suspend
To bring a solid substance, usually in powder form, into suspension in a liquid.
Terminate
(transitive) To end something, especially when left in an incomplete state.
To terminate a process before its completion
To terminate an effort, or a controversy
Suspend
(obsolete) To make to depend.
Terminate
(transitive) To conclude.
Suspend
To debar, or cause to withdraw temporarily, from any privilege, from the execution of an office, from the enjoyment of income, etc.
To suspend a student from college; to suspend a member of a club
Terminate
(transitive) To set or be a limit or boundary to.
To terminate a surface by a line
Suspend
(chemistry) To support in a liquid, as an insoluble powder, by stirring, to facilitate chemical action.
Terminate
To kill someone or something.
The enemy must be terminated by any means possible.
Suspend
To remove the value of an unused coupon from an air ticket, typically so as to allow continuation of the next sectors' travel.
Terminate
To end the employment contract of an employee; to fire, lay off.
Suspend
To attach to something above; to hang; as, to suspend a ball by a thread; to suspend a needle by a loadstone.
Terminate
(intransitive) To end, conclude, or cease; to come to an end.
Suspend
To make to depend; as, God hath suspended the promise of eternal life on the condition of obedience and holiness of life.
Terminate
(intransitive) Of a mode of transport, to end its journey; or, of a railway line, to reach its terminus.
This train terminates at the next station.
Suspend
To cause to cease for a time; to hinder from proceeding; to interrupt; to delay; to stay.
Suspend your indignation against my brother.
The guard nor fights nor fies; their fate so nearAt once suspends their courage and their fear.
Terminate
(intransitive) To issue or result.
Suspend
To hold in an undetermined or undecided state; as, to suspend one's judgment or opinion.
Terminate
Terminated; limited; bounded; ended.
Suspend
To debar, or cause to withdraw temporarily, from any privilege, from the execution of an office, from the enjoyment of income, etc.; as, to suspend a student from college; to suspend a member of a club.
Good men should not be suspended from the exercise of their ministry and deprived of their livelihood for ceremonies which are on all hands acknowledged indifferent.
Terminate
Having a definite and clear limit or boundary; having a determinate size, shape or magnitude.
Mountains on the Moon cast shadows that are very dark, terminate and more distinct than those cast by mountains on the Earth.
Suspend
To cause to cease for a time from operation or effect; as, to suspend the habeas corpus act; to suspend the rules of a legislative body.
Terminate
(mathematics) Expressible in a finite number of terms; (of a decimal) not recurring or infinite.
One third is a recurring decimal, but one half is a terminate decimal.
Suspend
To support in a liquid, as an insoluble powder, by stirring, to facilitate chemical action.
Terminate
To set a term or limit to; to form the extreme point or side of; to bound; to limit; as, to terminate a surface by a line.
Suspend
To cease from operation or activity; esp., to stop payment, or be unable to meet obligations or engagements (said of a commercial firm or a bank).
Terminate
To put an end to; to make to cease; as, to terminate an effort, or a controversy.
Suspend
Hang freely;
The secret police suspended their victims from the ceiling and beat them
Terminate
Hence, to put the finishing touch to; to bring to completion; to perfect.
During this interval of calm and prosperity, he [Michael Angelo] terminated two figures of slaves, destined for the tomb, in an incomparable style of art.
Suspend
Cause to be held in suspension in a fluid;
Suspend the particles
Terminate
To be limited in space by a point, line, or surface; to stop short; to end; to cease; as, the torrid zone terminates at the tropics.
Suspend
Bar temporarily; from school, office, etc.
Terminate
To come to a limit in time; to end; to close.
The wisdom of this world, its designs and efficacy, terminate on zhis side heaven.
Suspend
Stop a process or a habit by imposing a freeze on it;
Suspend the aid to the war-torn country
Terminate
Bring to an end or halt;
She ended their friendship when she found out that he had once been convicted of a crime
The attack on Poland terminated the relatively peaceful period after WWI
Suspend
Make inoperative or stop;
Suspend payments on the loan
Terminate
Have an end, in a temporal, spatial, or quantitative sense; either spatial or metaphorical;
The bronchioles terminate in a capillary bed
Your rights stop where you infringe upon the rights of other
My property ends by the bushes
The symphony ends in a pianissimo
Suspend
As of a prison sentence
Terminate
Be the end of; be the last or concluding part of;
This sad scene ended the movie
Suspend
To temporarily stop something from continuing.
The committee decided to suspend the meeting until next week.
Terminate
Terminate the employment of;
The boss fired his secretary today
The company terminated 25% of its workers
Suspend
To keep something from falling or sinking.
The particles were suspended in the liquid.
Terminate
To end a contract or agreement.
They decided to terminate the lease early.
Terminate
To destroy or eliminate.
The contract included a clause to terminate the agreement in case of non-compliance.
FAQs
Can a suspension be permanent?
No, suspension is by definition temporary, though it can lead to permanent termination.
What are common reasons for terminating an employee?
Common reasons include poor performance, misconduct, redundancy, or breaches of contract.
Is termination reversible?
Termination is generally final, though in rare cases, it can be reversed if both parties agree.
What does it mean to suspend a project?
Suspending a project means pausing its activities temporarily, often until certain conditions are met.
What does it mean to suspend an employee?
Suspending an employee means temporarily removing them from their duties, often pending investigation or disciplinary action.
What is the difference between suspending and terminating a service?
Suspending a service means it is temporarily halted, while terminating a service means it is permanently stopped.
Does suspension affect employment status?
Suspension is temporary and does not permanently affect employment status, unlike termination.
Can termination be part of a legal settlement?
Yes, termination can be a part of a legal settlement where both parties agree to end their relationship.
What happens when a contract is terminated?
When a contract is terminated, it is permanently ended, and all parties are released from their obligations.
What legal recourse does an employee have if they are terminated?
An employee may seek legal advice to determine if their termination was lawful and if they are entitled to any compensation.
What are the implications of terminating a lease?
Terminating a lease ends the rental agreement and may involve penalties or fees.
Can a suspended employee return to work?
Yes, a suspended employee can return to work after the suspension period ends or after conditions are resolved.
What are common reasons for suspending an employee?
Common reasons include misconduct, policy violations, or pending investigations.
Is suspension always a disciplinary action?
No, suspension can also occur due to external factors like lack of work or budget issues.
Can a suspended contract be reinstated?
Yes, a suspended contract can be reinstated once the reasons for suspension are resolved.
How does suspension affect pay?
Depending on company policy, suspended employees may or may not receive pay during the suspension period.
What is a suspension in legal terms?
In legal terms, suspension means temporarily stopping the enforcement or effect of a law or court order.
Is terminating a service the same as canceling it?
Yes, terminating a service generally means canceling it permanently.
Can a terminated employee be rehired?
While rare, a terminated employee can be rehired if both parties agree and circumstances change.
What is the purpose of suspension in schools?
Suspension in schools serves as a disciplinary measure to address student misconduct and maintain order.
About Author
Written by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
Co-written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
