postponed appointment

USAGE SUMMARY

"postponed appointment" is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe a situation where an appointment is moved to a later date. For example: "The doctor's office called to reschedule my appointment; they said my postponed appointment is now next Tuesday instead."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Classes were canceled at many schools on Monday and several hospitals and clinics postponed appointments and procedures that were not urgent.

The New York Times

Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of BMA Council, said: "We are working closely with NHS managers to plan the day of action and to ensure any postponed appointments or operations are rearranged so that patients are given as much notice as possible.

BBC

Like so many other observers of our nation's schools, she homes in on the abysmal teachers and gives short shrift to the great many others who craft careful substitute plans, postpone appointments and personal commitments, and work tirelessly day in and day out on behalf of their students.

The New York Times

Work is also needed to understand the patient's perspective, for example should hospitals postpone appointments until all the necessary information is available, or give patients the choice of whether to be seen with no records?

BMC Health Services Research

Last January, Tracey was called for a routine smear test but she postponed her appointment several times because Philip was suffering from a series of chest infections.

BBC

Obama was to have filled the FBI job in 2011 but postponed the appointment, persuading Congress to extend the term of Director Robert Mueller by two years, until September 2013.

Huffington Post

In west Wales, Hywel Dda Health Board postponed 905 appointments and 92 operations postponed.

BBC

But when Ms. McMillen realized that it would coincide with the vice-presidential debate between Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Gov. Sarah Palin that night, she decided to postpone their appointment.

The New York Times

Robshaw occupied himself in the final seconds before kick off by tying his right bootlace, as if trying to postpone his appointment with destiny.

Independent

So Ms. Woods, who said that she had been threatened with eviction for missing rent payments and had been postponing an appointment with the eye doctor because she lacks insurance, has been looking for another, better job.

The New Yorker

Scott Blackmun, the former general counsel, has been the interim chief executive, but the board decided today, on the final day of its meetings, to postpone an appointment until January.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "postponed appointment", ensure the context clearly indicates whether the appointment has been rescheduled or simply delayed indefinitely. Use additional clarifying information if needed.

Common error

Avoid using "postponed appointment" when the appointment is definitively cancelled and not intended to be rescheduled. Use "cancelled appointment" instead for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "postponed appointment" functions as a noun phrase, where "postponed" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "appointment". Ludwig AI confirms that is a valid phrase.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Science

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Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "postponed appointment" is a grammatically sound and understandable way to describe a meeting or engagement that has been delayed. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a valid and accepted phrase in written English. While it does not have abundant usage examples, alternative phrases like "rescheduled appointment" can be considered for stylistic variation. When using the phrase, ensure clarity regarding whether the appointment is simply delayed or definitively cancelled. Be mindful of this distinction to avoid confusion, and tailor your choice of words based on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rescheduled appointment

This alternative directly replaces "postponed" with "rescheduled", emphasizing the act of setting a new time.

delayed appointment

This alternative replaces "postponed" with "delayed", highlighting the fact that the appointment has been pushed back.

appointment pushed back

This alternative uses a more informal phrasing to indicate the appointment was moved to a later date.

appointment put off

Replaces "postponed" with the phrasal verb "put off", conveying a similar meaning of delaying the appointment.

appointment deferred

Uses the more formal term "deferred" in place of "postponed", implying a temporary delay.

appointment adjourned

Replaces "postponed" with "adjourned", typically used in formal contexts like meetings or legal proceedings.

appointment called off

This suggests the appointment has been cancelled, though it could be rescheduled later.

appointment suspended

This suggests a temporary halt to the appointment, with the possibility of resuming it later.

appointment on hold

This implies the appointment is temporarily paused, pending further action or a decision.

appointment reprogrammed

This emphasizes the proactive aspect of rescheduling, suggesting the appointment is actively being planned again.

FAQs

What does "postponed appointment" mean?

A "postponed appointment" refers to a scheduled meeting or engagement that has been delayed to a later date. It implies that the appointment is not cancelled but will occur at a future time.

What's the difference between a /s/"postponed+appointment" and a /s/"cancelled+appointment"?

A "postponed appointment" is delayed and will be rescheduled. A "cancelled appointment" is terminated and might not be rescheduled at all.

How can I use "postponed appointment" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, my doctor's appointment became a "postponed appointment"."

What are some alternatives to saying "postponed appointment"?

You can use alternatives like "rescheduled appointment" or "delayed appointment" to convey a similar meaning.