commendation
Americannoun
-
commendations
plural
-
the act of commending; recommendation; praise.
commendation for a job well done.
- Synonyms:
- applause, approbation, approval
- Antonyms:
- condemnation
-
something that commends, as a formal recommendation or an official citation or award.
a commendation for bravery.
- Antonyms:
- condemnation
-
Feudal Law. the placing of oneself or one's land under the protection of a lord so as to become his vassal.
-
Archaic. commendations, a complimentary greeting or message.
noun
-
the act or an instance of commending; praise
-
an award
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of commendation
1175–1225; Middle English commendacioun (< Anglo-French ) < Latin commendātiōn- (stem of commendātiō ) a commending to God. See commend, -ation
Explanation
If you got a commendation for your brave deeds during the earthquake, then congratulations! A commendation is an award praising someone’s actions. A commendation can be an official award for notable action, often given out by a government or other group. A police officer might receive a special commendation for being particularly brave. This kind of commendation is often awarded at a public ceremony. You can also use commendation more broadly to mean "praise," even if it's not official. It'd be nice to tell your teacher she deserves commendation for the good-natured way she has handled your rowdy class all year.
Vocabulary lists containing commendation
Richard Nixon's "Checkers" Speech (1952)
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50 Words from Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice"
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Twelfth Night
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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.
See Examples For:
That remarkable level of discipline should have gotten John a commendation.
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026
In 2021, Trump awarded Fauci a presidential commendation for his work on the US Covid vaccine project, known as Operation Warp Speed.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Roberts-Smith stepped back from active duties at the end of 2012, and formally left the ADF in 2015, shortly after receiving a commendation for Distinguished Service.
From BBC ● Apr. 17, 2026
The jurists are hardly due a commendation, since their previous ruling on the question was reversed 9-0 by the Supreme Court this summer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025
Miss Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorised by such commendation to think of her as he chose.
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
The service-member plaintiffs collectively had more than 130 years of military service and more than 80 commendations.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026
Trump, on the last full day of his first term, awarded Fauci and other members of the Operation Warp Speed team presidential commendations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said he would recommend her and receptionist Alicia Richards for commendations for their bravery during the incident.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2024
His commendations included the Navy Cross, the Silver Star and, for wounds received while leading a rifle platoon, two Purple Hearts.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2024
POE throws down the gauntlet in his preface by what he says of "the paltry compensations, or more paltry commendations, of mankind."
From Life Without and Life Within or, Reviews, Narratives, Essays, and poems. by Margaret Fuller
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.
