Prolongation: meaning, definitions and examples

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prolongation

 

[ prəˌlɔŋˈɡeɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in medicine

The act of extending the duration or length of something, especially a medical condition or treatment.

Synonyms

continuation, extension, protraction.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
prolongation

Used in formal contexts to indicate the lengthening of time, especially in legal, medical, or technical settings.

  • The prolongation of the trial caused significant delays
  • The medication resulted in the prolongation of the patient's life
extension

Commonly used when talking about increasing the length or scope of something, like deadlines, physical spaces, or durations.

  • The extension of the deadline allowed students to submit their papers
  • They are planning an extension to the building to add more offices
continuation

Best used when referring to something that remains ongoing or resumes after a pause, often in projects, discussions, or broadcasting.

  • The continuation of the meeting will be scheduled for next week
  • The show is a continuation of last season's storyline
protraction

Usually applied in a formal or academic manner, particularly to describe the lengthening of time in a manner that feels unnecessary or tedious; often has a negative connotation.

  • The protraction of negotiations frustrated everyone involved
  • The protraction of the proceedings was seen as a deliberate stalling tactic

Examples of usage

  • The prolongation of the patient's life was a result of the new medication.
  • Prolongation of the treatment may lead to better outcomes.
Context #2 | Noun

in linguistics

The addition of a sound or a syllable to the end of a word, especially in pronunciation.

Synonyms

elongation, extension, protraction.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
prolongation

Prolongation is typically used in formal or legal contexts to indicate an extension of time or duration, often referring to something that is being extended beyond its original period.

  • The committee approved the prolongation of the contract for another year.
  • The negotiation resulted in the prolongation of the deadline.
elongation

Elongation commonly applies to physical objects or measurements, referring to the process of making something longer, especially in a scientific or mechanical context.

  • The elongation of the metal rod occurred under high temperature.
  • During the experiment, the researchers observed the elongation of the material.
protraction

Protraction often implies an unnecessary or unnatural delay or extension. It usually has a slightly negative connotation, suggesting that something is being drawn out longer than needed.

  • The protraction of the meeting led to frustration among the attendees.
  • The protraction of the trial caused anxiety for all parties involved.
extension

Extension is a general term used in many contexts to denote the act of adding additional length or time to something. It's often used in everyday situations as well as in technical or business settings.

  • The project manager requested an extension on the deadline.
  • The table has an extension that can make it larger.

Examples of usage

  • The English language often exhibits vowel prolongation in certain dialects.
  • His accent had a distinct prolongation of consonants.

Translations

Translations of the word "prolongation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 prorrogação

🇮🇳 विस्तार

🇩🇪 Verlängerung

🇮🇩 perpanjangan

🇺🇦 продовження

🇵🇱 przedłużenie

🇯🇵 延長 (enchō)

🇫🇷 prolongation

🇪🇸 prórroga

🇹🇷 uzatma

🇰🇷 연장 (yeonjang)

🇸🇦 تمديد

🇨🇿 prodloužení

🇸🇰 predĺženie

🇨🇳 延长 (yáncháng)

🇸🇮 podaljšanje

🇮🇸 framlenging

🇰🇿 ұзарту

🇬🇪 გახანგრძლივება

🇦🇿 uzadılma

🇲🇽 prórroga

Etymology

The word 'prolongation' originated from the Latin word 'prolongatio', which is derived from the verb 'prolongare', meaning 'to lengthen' or 'to extend'. The term has been used in various fields such as medicine, linguistics, and music to denote the act of extending or lengthening something.

See also: prolonged, prolongedly.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,692, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.