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.

Other musicians at the celebration included Jools Holland, Craig David and Anne-Marie.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

For Sarah Gorden, Mother’s Day is special because it’s not just a celebration of motherhood.

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 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 pause in fighting coincides with Russia’s annual Victory Day, a celebration of the victory over Germany in World War II, which Moscow typically marks with a military parade through Red Square.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Back in Romania, there was no celebration like this, not even on the day commemorating when Wallachia and Moldavia had united to form the kingdom.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

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