Quick answer: Cancel means to call something off entirely so it will not happen. Postpone means to delay it to a later time — the event will still take place, just not when originally planned. This distinction is important in everyday communication. For a fuller definition, see the Cambridge Dictionary entry for ‘cancel’.
Understanding Cancel
Cancel means to decide that something planned will not happen at all, or to end something that was previously agreed. There is no new date — the event, appointment, or arrangement is simply called off. You can cancel a meeting, a subscription, an order, a booking, or a project. The noun form is cancellation. In everyday English, cancel is also used more informally: “cancel culture” refers to withdrawing support from a public figure. When you cancel something, the other party needs to know that they should not expect it to happen at all. This is why choosing between cancel and postpone is important — the wrong word can cause confusion about whether an event will occur in the future.
The concert was cancelled due to the severe weather warning.
Please cancel my appointment for Thursday morning.
She cancelled her gym membership last month.
The flight was cancelled and passengers were offered refunds.
Understanding Postpone
Postpone means to move an event or activity to a later time. The key point is that the event is still intended to happen — it is simply being rescheduled. Postpone is a transitive verb and is typically followed by a noun or gerund: postpone the meeting, postpone making a decision. It is not used with an infinitive (“postpone to go” is wrong). A related word is defer, which is very similar and slightly more formal. The noun form is postponement. When you tell someone something is postponed, they should understand that a new time will be set and the event will eventually happen.
The board meeting has been postponed until next Tuesday.
They decided to postpone the product launch by two weeks.
The match was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
We had to postpone our holiday plans because of work commitments.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Use case | Cancel | Postpone |
|---|---|---|
| Will the event happen? | No — called off entirely | Yes — rescheduled for later |
| New date set? | No | Yes (or to be confirmed) |
| Refund expected? | Usually yes | Not necessarily |
| Noun form | cancellation | postponement |
| Synonyms | call off, scrap, abort | defer, delay, reschedule, put off |
Common Mistakes
✗ The meeting is cancelled — we’ll meet next week instead. (contradictory)
✓ The meeting has been postponed until next week.
✗ They postponed to make a decision.
✓ They postponed making a decision. (postpone + gerund)
✗ The cancelment of the event was announced.
✓ The cancellation of the event was announced.
Practice: Which Is Correct?
Four questions — choose the best word.
1. “The show has been ___ — no new date has been announced.”
2. “The wedding has been ___ until October due to the couple’s work schedules.”
3. “Please ___ my reservation for Saturday night.” (I won’t be going)
4. “They agreed to ___ signing the contract until the lawyer reviewed it.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between cancel and postpone?
Cancel means to call something off entirely so it will not happen at all. Postpone means to delay it to a later date or time — the event will still happen, just not as originally planned.
If a meeting is postponed, will it still happen?
Yes. A postponed meeting is rescheduled to a later time. A cancelled meeting will not take place at all.
What is a synonym for postpone?
Synonyms for postpone include delay, defer, reschedule, put off, and adjourn (in formal contexts). All imply the event will happen later, not that it is called off.
Can you postpone indefinitely?
In theory, yes — an event can be “postponed indefinitely”, meaning no new date is set. However, in practice this often amounts to a de facto cancellation.
What does “defer” mean compared to postpone?
Defer is very similar to postpone — both mean to put something off to a later time. Defer is slightly more formal and often used for payments or decisions: “defer payment”, “defer a decision”.
What is the noun form of cancel?
The noun form is cancellation: “The cancellation of the concert disappointed many fans.” The noun form of postpone is postponement: “The postponement was announced yesterday.”
Is “cancel” stronger than “postpone”?
Yes. Cancellation is a definitive end; postponement leaves the possibility open. From the recipient’s perspective, a cancellation is usually more disappointing than a postponement.
How do you use postpone in a sentence?
Postpone is a transitive verb followed by a noun or gerund: “We postponed the meeting until Friday.” “They postponed making a decision.” It is not followed by an infinitive.
Can you cancel a subscription?
Yes. “Cancel a subscription” means to end it permanently. You cannot “postpone” a subscription in the same way — you might suspend or pause it.
What is the difference between delay and postpone?
They are very similar. Delay can describe something happening later than expected (often involuntary): “The flight was delayed.” Postpone usually involves a deliberate decision to reschedule: “We postponed the launch.”