celebration

[sel-uh-brey-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of celebrating.

   We want to do something special in celebration of Amy’s great new job.

2. 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

• intercelebration noun
• noncelebration noun
• precelebration noun
• recelebration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of celebration¹

First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin celebrātiōn- (stem of celebrātiō ) “large gathering, widespread use, celebration (of a festival)”; celebrate, -ion

Example Sentences

That is how long it took Friday night for the Mariners to launch a celebration that had been nearly a quarter-century in the making.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Chinese Premier Li Qiang is leading Beijing's delegation to this week's 80th anniversary celebrations, while the deputy head of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev -- a key ally of President Vladimir Putin -- also joined in Pyongyang.

Read more on Barron's

Anniversary celebrations usually involve a combination of congratulations, good wishes, and a few words of reflection and thanks.

Read more on Barron's

From the streets of Israel’s main cities to the dismal displacement camps of the Gaza Strip, this week’s deal was cause for celebration.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

As the players doused one another in celebration, the Dodgers readily gave credit to a Phillies pitching staff that might rate as the best they will face this October.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anniversary 
• bash 
• birthday 
• ceremony 
• festival 
• festivity 
• gala 
• jubilee 
• observance 
• party 
• performance 
• spree 
• triumph