Quick answer
Pursuant is a formal word that often means “according to” or “under the authority of.” It is common in legal, policy, and administrative writing.
Word page
Pursuant Meaning
Pursuant is one of those words that makes a sentence immediately sound as if it has entered a filing cabinet. It means in accordance with, following from, or as required by something, usually in legal or administrative writing.
At a glance
Bureaucratic and Academic AbsurditiesPompous and Grandiloquent WordsSpeech, Noise, and Verbal Nonsense
How to say it
Pronunciation tip: say pursuant with a clear stress pattern: per-SOO-unt.
Meaning in plain English
In plain English, pursuant means that something follows from a rule, agreement, request, or earlier statement. The phrase “pursuant to” usually means “according to” or “as required by.”
Tone, context, and nuance
Pursuant is useful when legal precision matters. In everyday writing, it often sounds unnecessarily stiff, and “under,” “according to,” “as required by,” or “because of” may be clearer.
Example sentences
- Simple: The records were released pursuant to the court order.
- Everyday: In plain English, “pursuant to the policy” means “under the policy.”
- Writing: The memo leaned heavily on pursuant, as if simpler words had been banned.
- Nuance: Pursuant can be useful in legal writing but stiff in ordinary prose.
- Awkward: "Pursuant to lunch, I took a walk." Better: "After lunch, I took a walk."
Common mistakes
| Common mistake | Better guidance |
|---|---|
| Leaving the pronunciation blank | A simple guide is per-SOO-unt. |
| Using it to sound official | Use pursuant only when the formal connection matters. |
| Overusing pursuant to | Many sentences are clearer with “under,” “according to,” or “as required by.” |
| Treating it as casual English | Pursuant belongs mostly to legal and administrative style. |
Synonyms and similar words
| Similar word | Difference or nuance |
|---|---|
| according to | Clearer everyday phrase for many uses. |
| under | Often simpler in legal or policy contexts. |
| in accordance with | Formal phrase with similar meaning. |
| following | Plain word for something that comes after or results from something. |
| proviso | A condition or limitation, not the same meaning but common in formal documents. |
Opposite words
contrary to, outside, unrelated to, independent of, against
Word family
Related forms include pursue, pursuit, and pursuance. Pursuant is most common in the phrase “pursuant to.”
Word origin
Pursuant comes from older forms related to pursue, with the sense of following after. The legal sense developed from that idea of following from a rule or authority.
Writing tip
Use pursuant when you need legal or policy precision. For general readers, try “under,” “according to,” or “as required by.”
Common questions
- What does pursuant mean in simple words? Pursuant means according to, under, or as required by something.
- How do you pronounce pursuant? Pursuant is pronounced per-SOO-unt.
- Is pursuant formal? Yes. Pursuant is formal and often legal or administrative.
- What does pursuant to mean? Pursuant to usually means according to, under, or as required by.
- What is a simpler word for pursuant? Simpler alternatives include under, according to, following, and as required by.
- Should I use pursuant in everyday writing? Usually no. Use it mainly when a legal, policy, or contractual connection needs to be precise.
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Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 14, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.