reprieve

6 definitions • 5 examples

an official order that stops or delays the punishment, especially by death, of a prisoner:

He was sentenced to death but was granted a last-minute reprieve.

an escape from a bad situation or experience:

The injection provided a temporary reprieve from the pain.

to stop or delay the punishment, especially by death, of a prisoner

to provide something or someone with an escape from a bad situation or experience, especially to delay or stop plans to close or end something:

The threatened hospitals could now be reprieved.

an official order to delay or stop a prisoner’s punishment, esp. the punishment of death:

The warden notified Shaw of his reprieve.

A reprieve is also any delay that is welcomed:

The play, about to close, was granted a four-week reprieve.