perpetuation

American  

[per-pech-oo-ey-shuhn] / pərˌpɛtʃ uˈeɪ ʃən /

Also perpetuance

noun

1. the act of causing something to continue or go on happening.

   The object of the sorority, among others, is the perpetuation of good fellowship, friendship, and sisterly love among its members.

2. the act of preserving something from extinction or oblivion.

   I spent many months writing the biographies of my father and grandfather to aid in the perpetuation of their memory.

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Other Word Forms

• nonperpetuance noun
• nonperpetuation noun

Etymology

Origin of perpetuation

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin perpetuātiōn-, stem of perpetuātiō “a making uninterrupted, preservation”; see perpetuate ( def. ), -ion ( def. )

Explanation

When you make something last or keep it going as long as you can, that's perpetuation. The perpetuation of your childhood memories is helped by looking at old photographs. The perpetuation of a family's genes happens when people have children, and the perpetuation of oppression occurs when one dictator after another seizes control of a country's government. When something is made to last longer or is continued, some kind of perpetuation is going on. Both the noun and related verb perpetuate come from a Latin root, perpetuus, which means "continuous or universal."

Example Sentences

Vinit’s sister-in-law describes the perpetuation of his life, especially if his bodily autonomy is indeed being transferred to his ex-wife’s decision-making, as “cruel.”

From Slate • Dec. 8, 2025

Kenvue said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned by the perpetuation of misinformation on the safety of acetaminophen and the potential impact that could have on the health of American women and children".

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2025

And yet, as viewers learn by the end of "Baby Reindeer," Martha's serial-stalking tendencies are a perpetuation of pain she weathered as a child, in an ostensibly unstable home.

From Salon • Apr. 27, 2024

“I’m just tired of the perpetuation of this idea that my art form is somehow evil,” Larsen said.

From New York Times • Apr. 22, 2024

Their professional prestige, sometimes their very jobs depend on the perpetuation of chemical methods.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Related Words

• care
• conservancy
• conservation
• safeguarding
• safety
• security
• storage