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

• 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; acclaim, -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

“The modern view,” Mr. Sidebottom writes, “is to doubt its historical accuracy. It is a scholarly orthodoxy that the salute was no more than a one-off impromptu acclamation that went very wrong.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The Kazakh was the only candidate left standing and was named president by acclamation at the annual congress in Rome.

From Barron's • Nov. 23, 2025

Ratification was then confirmed by acclamation - in the form of applause - rather than a traditional vote, with only Norway's football federation abstaining, and criticising the bidding process.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2025

Ever modest, Groban insisted that the acclamation isn’t just for him.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2023

Such was the acclamation we gave her in those last weeks of the year.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli

Related Words

• ovation
• salutation