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

intercelebration noun
noncelebration noun
precelebration noun
recelebration noun

Etymology

Origin of celebration

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

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.

"On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

Waine is a Newcastle fan who replicated Alan Shearer's trademark arm-in-the-air celebration after scoring against Sunderland.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

But instead of serving as a celebration of America’s pastime, opening day has arrived this week with a warning: Don’t get too attached.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

A larger celebration of life will be held at a later date.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

“I’m sure Grandma is already planning a big celebration for your return. A parade. A party. She may declare it a holiday.”

From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas

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