commemoration
Americannoun
-
the act of commemorating.
-
a service, celebration, etc., in memory of some person or event.
-
a memorial.
-
(in many Christian churches) a special service or prayer for commemorating the lesser feast on days on which two feasts of unequal rank are celebrated.
noun
-
the act or an instance of commemorating
-
a ceremony or service in memory of a person or event
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of commemoration
1350–1400; Middle English (< Middle French ) < Latin commemorātiōn- (stem of commemorātiō ), equivalent to commemorāt ( us ) ( see commemorate) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
A commemoration is a ceremony that honors someone's memory. A commemoration can also honor an event, like a war. A commemoration is a celebration of someone or something, usually in the form of a ceremony. Commemorations are often held on the anniversary of someone's birth or death. For example, there have been many commemorations for Martin Luther King to honor his contributions to the civil rights movement. On the anniversary of 9/11, commemorations are held to honor the dead. This word is all about remembering and respecting.
Vocabulary lists containing commemoration
May Vocabulary Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Total Recall: Mem
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
His first concert at Lincoln Center as music director of the New York Philharmonic in September will open with Adams’ “On the Transmigration of Souls,” in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
“The Beatles brought the world together that day,” Cohen explained to me, “so it made perfect sense to mark it as their day of commemoration — global and universal.”
From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026
He was jailed again in 2014 for participating in another Tiananmen commemoration event, according to Amnesty International.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
Fernando Cheung, a spokesperson for Amnesty International, said in a statement on Monday that "holding people criminally responsible for peaceful commemoration compounds the injustice suffered by the victims of the Tiananmen crackdown".
From Barron's • May 18, 2026
Although these practices vary from one community to the next, at the core of each dance, of each song, of each prayer is a commemoration of the gift of corn.
From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
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.
