commemoration

American  

[kuh-mem-uh-rey-shuhn] / kəˌmɛm əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

• commemorations
  plural

1. the act of commemorating.

2. a service, celebration, etc., in memory of some person or event.

3. a memorial.

4. (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.

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commemoration British  

/ kəˌmɛməˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of commemorating

2. a ceremony or service in memory of a person or event

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncommemoration
  noun
• commemorational
  adjective
• noncommemorational
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• commemorations
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

commemoration commemorations

The procession coincided with the annual commemoration of Imam Hussein, the mourning month of Muharram, the holiest period of the year in Shia Islam.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026

The National Symphony did pull off the premiere of Peter Boyer’s “American Mosaic,” and it was to the Altadena composer that Philadelphia, this time around, entrusted its Declaration of Independence commemoration.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

But there was no surprise appearance by Mojtaba at the commemoration, an event his father had attended every year since Khomeini's death in 1989.

From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026

In her fondest hopes, the commemoration of Global Beatles Day presents an annual opportunity for recommitting ourselves to the band’s ideals, which McCartney sagely explained in the “Anthology” documentary series.

From Salon ● Jun. 4, 2026

“Personhood” is a word I first heard as I listened to the eloquence of Brother Randall Robinson, president of theTransAfrica Forum, during his remarks at the Apollo commemoration.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey

His son, Mojtaba, the new supreme leader, was absent from the commemorations, fearing assassination himself.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

The commemorations now move to some of the most sacred sites for Shia Muslims, including in Qom, south of Tehran, on Tuesday, and then to Najaf and Karbala in neighbouring Iraq.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

I’ve been there during the annual commemorations, and it’s a very moving experience.

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026

France's air force acrobatics team staged a flyover of the Statue of Liberty on Tuesday, part of commemorations for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.

From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026

Now after thirty-four years, the commemorations and interviews and presentations of posthumous honors have almost stopped, so that for months at a time Dedd is able to take up her own life again.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

Related Words

• celebration
• ceremony
• remembrance
• tribute