celebration

American

[sel-uh-brey-shuhn] / ˌsɛl əˈbreɪ ʃən /

noun

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

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.

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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.

But against the powerful Thunder, Reaves didn’t get a chance to punctuate his comeback night with any emphatic celebration.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

"It is a celebration of life and a powerful symbol of resilience, freedom, patriotism, courage, and the will to keep fighting for America."

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

The cease-fire will begin Saturday and coincides with Russia’s annual Victory Day, a celebration of its World War II victory.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Sir David, who has dedicated his life to documenting the natural world, celebrates his 100th birthday on Friday, which will be marked with a week-long celebration on the BBC commemorating his life's work.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

Champagne is for a celebration, Uncle Tim says.

From "A Step from Heaven" by An Na

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023