commemoration

American  

[kuh-mem-uh-rey-shuhn] / kəˌmɛm əˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

commemorations plural

1. the act of commemorating.

2. a service, celebration, etc., in memory of some person or event.

3. a memorial.

4. (in many Christian churches) a special service or prayer for commemorating the lesser feast on days on which two feasts of unequal rank are celebrated.

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commemoration British  

/ kəˌmɛməˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of commemorating

2. a ceremony or service in memory of a person or event

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncommemoration
  noun
• commemorational
  adjective
• noncommemorational
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• commemorations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of commemoration

1350–1400; Middle English (< Middle French ) < Latin commemorātiōn- (stem of commemorātiō ), equivalent to commemorāt ( us ) ( see commemorate) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

A commemoration is a ceremony that honors someone's memory. A commemoration can also honor an event, like a war. A commemoration is a celebration of someone or something, usually in the form of a ceremony. Commemorations are often held on the anniversary of someone's birth or death. For example, there have been many commemorations for Martin Luther King to honor his contributions to the civil rights movement. On the anniversary of 9/11, commemorations are held to honor the dead. This word is all about remembering and respecting.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

commemoration commemorations

Historians at the Commission say most of the 9,909 men previously omitted from commemoration records were casualties who died of injuries away from the battlefield.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

As Americans marked the 250th anniversary of independence, the nation’s largest planned celebration unfolded less like a unified commemoration and more like a stress test — of weather, logistics and competing visions of patriotism.

From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026

Together it all makes for "a representative record of the United States at 250 years," said Rosie Rios, chairwoman of America250, the official organization behind the national commemoration of the anniversary.

From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026

The National Symphony did pull off the premiere of Peter Boyer’s “American Mosaic,” and it was to the Altadena composer that Philadelphia, this time around, entrusted its Declaration of Independence commemoration.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

When caught, these crabs are not eaten, but are returned to the sea in commemoration of the doleful events at Danno-ura.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

His son, Mojtaba, the new supreme leader, was absent from the commemorations, fearing assassination himself.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

The commemorations now move to some of the most sacred sites for Shia Muslims, including in Qom, south of Tehran, on Tuesday, and then to Najaf and Karbala in neighbouring Iraq.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

I’ve been there during the annual commemorations, and it’s a very moving experience.

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026

Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a cease-fire in honor of Victory Day commemorations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

Now after thirty-four years, the commemorations and interviews and presentations of posthumous honors have almost stopped, so that for months at a time Dedd is able to take up her own life again.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez

Related Words

• celebration
• ceremony
• remembrance
• tribute