celebration
Americannoun
-
celebrations
plural
-
the act of celebrating.
We want to do something special in celebration of Amy’s great new job.
-
a party or other festive event for celebrating something.
Don’t you think the birthday celebrations for preschoolers in this neighborhood are a bit over the top?
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of celebration
First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin celebrātiōn- (stem of celebrātiō ) “large gathering, widespread use, celebration (of a festival)”; see celebrate, -ion
Explanation
A celebration is a joyful diversion. Your math class might have a celebration when you learn that the midterm has been postponed for a week. A celebration can be a festive party commemorating some joyous occasion, like your grandparents' fiftieth anniversary celebration or your brother's birthday celebration. It can also be a less formal marking of a happy event, like the arrival of your new puppy. Another meaning of celebration is a religious ceremony, such as communion or a bar mitzvah.
Vocabulary lists containing celebration
Party Parlance for Mardi Gras
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Passover Vocabulary
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List 4
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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:
Possessing a Roger Federer-style one-handed backhand, and a Thor-inspired hammer celebration, Balshaw announced his arrival in some style.
From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026
He said as much in August, when the group made its Tiny Desk debut in celebration of NPR’s Black Music Month.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
"This Saturday, October 17, will be a celebration of our collective power. Walk together to the polls. Organize rides. Bring your neighbors, friends, and family," she urged participants.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
After Monday’s search, the celebration became even more explicit.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
The celebration of innovation had begun even before 1492, however.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
Halloween has become one of the UK's biggest seasonal celebrations, with spending on costumes, decorations and themed events continuing to grow.
From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026
“Milwaukee Brewers” is a fixture of the team’s clubhouse, where it’s heard in the background of audio and video of interviews and celebrations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
But America’s 72 million children, as well as their parents, should probably hold off on the celebrations for now.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026
If those celebrations aren’t quite justified, there’s still something to be learned from the ordeal, which digs into the so-called dead internet theory.
From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2026
The celebrations ceased immediately as the crew saw their commander's expression.
From "The Martian" by Andy Weir
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
