commencement
Americannoun
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an act or instance of commencing; beginning.
the commencement of hostilities.
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the ceremony of conferring degrees or granting diplomas at the end of the academic year.
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the day on which this ceremony takes place.
noun
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the beginning; start
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a ceremony for the presentation of awards at secondary schools
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a ceremony for the conferment of academic degrees
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of commencement
First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French; equivalent to commence + -ment
Explanation
A commencement is the act of starting out, or blazing a new trail. The suffix -ment makes the word commencement a noun — a thing, an activity, a start. The word can be used for the beginning of anything, from a business meeting to a vacation trip to a marriage. Anything that begins has a moment of commencement. That's why a graduation ceremony is called a commencement — a graduate is embarking on a new life, and the commencement ritual marks the official beginning of that life.
Vocabulary lists containing commencement
The Vocabulary of College
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A Graduation Lexicon
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Steve Jobs's Commencement Address (2005)
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
New college graduates booed commencement speakers who spoke of the benefits of artificial intelligence during their graduation ceremonies.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026
The young people crossing commencement stages this month are launching careers that will change in ways they can’t imagine.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 28, 2026
"It would be inappropriate to attempt to set a date... the defence position is that a commencement is contingent upon a determination... of Duterte's fitness to stand trial," the defence said.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
Air Force Academy later this week, continuing the administration’s presence across all major service branches during commencement season.
From Salon • May 24, 2026
He had disrupted commencement ceremonies by deliberately wearing a gold cap and gown, and the principal had threatened to bar him unless he changed into the mandated blue ones.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
