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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Passover Vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
List 4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
After Monday’s search, the celebration became even more explicit.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
"This Saturday, October 17, will be a celebration of our collective power. Walk together to the polls. Organize rides. Bring your neighbors, friends, and family," she urged participants.
From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026
In his celebration of Greek virtues, Mr. Rubio ignored their opposite—religious virtues.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
"We won't laugh or talk or share another family celebration together and sometimes that's too much to bear. I miss them. I will always miss them."
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
It wouldn’t be some generic babyish birthday celebration, with cupcakes for the whole class, like you did in elementary school.
From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee
I liked asking people what brought them in, hearing about their celebrations and making small talk while consulting my restaurant map and section list.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
On top of the performance and result, influential winger Jota made his long-awaited return from injury after almost 18 months on the sidelines and it was the Portuguese who led the post-match celebrations.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
He’s missed out on birthday celebrations for nearly all the family in the last five months, including his own.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026
Saturday's celebrations mark the 115th anniversary of the toppling of China's Qing dynasty and the subsequent founding of the Republic of China.
From Barron's ● Oct. 10, 2026
The drumming would come next, and, after the storytelling, this was Amari’s favorite part of her village’s celebrations.
From "Copper Sun" by Sharon M. Draper
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
