acclamation

American  

[ak-luh-mey-shuhn] / ˌæk ləˈmeɪ ʃən /

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.

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idioms

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

acclamation British  

/ -trɪ, ˌækləˈmeɪʃən, əˈklæmətərɪ /

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. 1. by an overwhelming majority without a ballot

   2. (of an election or electoral victory) without opposition

      he won by acclamation

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• acclamatory
  adjective
• reacclamation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of acclamation

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

Explanation

Acclamation is acclaim or recognition for some achievement. A major league baseball team might have to win the World Series to get acclamation, but a t-ball team might get acclamation simply for finishing an entire game. The acclamation you get on opening night might be your main incentive for acting in plays. Likewise, the acclamation they receive while campaigning is probably more attractive to some politicians than the actual work of governing. Acclamation can sometimes take the form of enthusiastic shouting, and in fact the Latin root acclamationem means "a shout of approval."

Related Words

• ovation
• salutation