sans

1 of 2

preposition

: without
my love to thee is sound, sans crack or flawWilliam Shakespeare

sans

2 of 2

noun

plural sans

Examples of sans in a Sentence

Preposition She went to the party sans her husband. anyone sans shirt will not be allowed in the restaurant
Recent Examples on the Web
Preposition
For the native Seattleite missing home or the traveler who couldn't get enough of Pike Place Market, this gift box contains a little bit of everything from around the market (sans flying fish). Corina Quinn, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Dec. 2022 This easy-to-wear option comes with a thick sole, perfect for extra squish factor (sans the sound). Ty Gaskins, Men's Health, 9 Jan. 2023 While health is the top reason for going sans alcohol, people also participate to trim consumption or reset their drinking habits in the new year. Paris Wolfe, cleveland, 30 Dec. 2022 Powered by 96 percent snail mucin, this essence boasts a uniquely slimey texture that instantly hydrates and plumps the skin sans any sticky residue. Tiffany Dodson, Harper's BAZAAR, 30 Dec. 2022 Sunny skies, sans wind gusts, are expected Tuesday and Wednesday. Baltimore Sun, 18 Dec. 2022 Beginning snowboarders sans wrist guards are four times more likely to incur a wrist injury than those wearing them, according to one study published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine. Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 2 Dec. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sans.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Preposition

Middle English saun, sans, from Anglo-French san, sanz, modification of Latin sine without — more at sunder

First Known Use

Preposition

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sans was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near sans

Cite this Entry

“Sans.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sans. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sans

preposition
(ˌ)sanz

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