Delay Reprieve Officially Cancel Prisoner Is Condemned To Reprieved Sth

verb
[usually passive] (not usually used in the progressive tenses)

1 ~ sb to officially cancel or delay a punishment for a prisoner who is condemned to deatha reprieved murderer

2 ~ sth to officially cancel or delay plans to close sth or end sth70 jobs have been reprieved until next April.

noun

[usually singular]

1 an official order stopping a punishment, especially for a prisoner who is condemned to death stay of execution

2 a delay before sth bad happensCampaigners have won a reprieve for the hospital threatened with closure.