sans

sans — preposition

1. indicating that a particular person, thing, or quality is absent or not present;

1.prepositionB2
Definition

indicating that a particular person, thing, or quality is absent or not present; a more literary or playful way of saying 'without'.

Example

Defne walked into the interview room sans résumé and still got the job.

sans + concrete noun in a professional context

The café serves all its cakes sans sugar for health-conscious customers.

sans + noun describing food preparation

Common collocations
  • sans + noun phrase
  • sans + proper noun
  • sans serif
  • sans everything
Synonyms
  • without

    the standard everyday preposition; far more common across all registers

  • lacking

    adjective rather than preposition; carries a stronger sense of deficiency or need

  • minus

    informal and often used in numerical or concrete contexts, e.g. 'minus the cheese'

Antonyms
  • with

    the direct opposite; indicates presence or inclusion

Grammar Patterns

sans + [noun phrase]

Usage Note

Common in formal writing, literature, and self-consciously playful or humorous contexts. In everyday spoken English, 'without' is the natural choice. Also appears in fixed expressions such as 'sans serif' (referring to typefaces without decorative strokes).

Common Mistakes

I forgot my keys, so I am locked out sans my bag.
I forgot my keys, so I am locked out without my bag.
'sans' sounds unnatural and overly literary for such a casual everyday situation; use 'without' instead.
She left the room sans saying goodbye.
She left the room without saying goodbye.
'sans' is rarely used before a gerund (-ing form); 'without' is the standard preposition in that structure.

Common collocations

Phrases

  • sans serif
  • sans everything
  • sans-culotte

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Borrowed from French 'sans', meaning 'without', which itself traces back through Old French to Latin 'sine' (without). The word entered English in the Middle English period and was initially used in heraldic descriptions and legal contexts before spreading into literary, journalistic, and humorous use.