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:
"It's really a celebration of life," he said.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
"But now it's not just a celebration of the film, it's a celebration of Justin and his life. It will be wonderful and sad. A complex mixture of emotions."
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
With a bald eagle, fighter jets, Air Force One, the Beast and race cars roaring through the nation’s capital, Trump certainly didn’t send the celebration out quietly.
From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026
Another, Elizabeth Richards, a former chef who had grown up in London and New York, began engaging with the company in her late 20s after attending the 120th anniversary celebration.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
There was little time for humor or celebration in a time of war.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
A global symbol of parties and celebrations but an environmental headache, the humble balloon is undergoing a green revolution thanks to UK researchers.
From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026
The Town and Manor of Hungerford, the charity that organises its Tutti Day celebrations, is behind the plan.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026
They are valuable gifts, often given to show respect, appreciation and goodwill and are associated with important occasions such as traditional weddings, family celebrations and ceremonies honouring elders or special guests.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
The couple, both 36, tied the knot over two days of celebrations at Madison Square Garden in New York on July 2 and 3.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
This ceremony marked the end of the long celebrations.
From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola
Definitions 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.
