acclamation

[ ak-luh-mey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a loud shout or other demonstration of welcome, goodwill, or approval.
2. act of acclaiming.
3. Liturgy. a brief responsive chant in antiphonal singing.
4. Ecclesiastical. response ( def 3a ).

acclamation

/ əˈklæmətərɪ; -trɪ; ˌækləˈmeɪʃən /

noun

1. an enthusiastic reception or exhibition of welcome, approval, etc
2. an expression of approval by a meeting or gathering through shouts or applause
3. an instance of electing or being elected without opposition

   there were two acclamations in the 1985 election

4. by acclamation
   by acclamation
   1. by an overwhelming majority without a ballot
   2. (of an election or electoral victory) without opposition

      he won by acclamation

Derived Forms

• acclamatory, adjective

Other Words From

• ac·clam·a·to·ry [uh, -, klam, -, uh, -tawr-ee, -tohr-ee], adjective
• reac·cla·mation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of acclamation¹

1535–45; < Latin acclāmātiōn- (stem of acclāmātiō ) a shouting, equivalent to acclāmāt ( us ) (past participle of acclāmāre; acclaim, -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. by acclamation, by an oral vote, often unanimous, expressing approval by shouts, hand-clapping, etc., rather than by formal ballot.

Example Sentences

We had an extended acclamation period because of the lack of time on the field during the offseason.

From Washington Post

By acclamation, it was the best moment for Pence in a 2016 debate that he won decisively.

From Washington Post

Like blind castigation, blind acclamation is done for its own sake and has little to do with the object of praise.

From The Daily Beast

It gets us over that initial, high-stakes moment of emotive acclamation, and skips straight to the conversation.

From The Daily Beast

The short hours achieved with acclamation to-day will later be denounced as the long hours of to-morrow.

From Project Gutenberg

The most extraordinary and despotic measures were adopted by acclamation to meet the fearful emergency.

From Project Gutenberg

Jane had the sense of being led towards some unaccountable triumph and acclamation.

From Project Gutenberg

He went across the great water to the east, and was there received with acclamation as a visitor from the New World.

From Project Gutenberg

Upon the deposition of Octavius the agrarian law of Gracchus was immediately passed by acclamation.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• ovation
• salutation