commemoration

American  

[kuh-mem-uh-ray-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

Year: 2015 Compiled by: Dana Stevens Of note: Written in commemoration of the show’s finale, although the Phineas and Ferb movies that have been released since then may necessitate a reassessment.

From Slate ● Oct. 7, 2026

An online petition is now calling for Mamdani to be uninvited to the commemoration services at Ground Zero.

From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026

Work is underway "to explore a more permanent commemoration on the Parliamentary estate", she added.

From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026

The Austrian government insisted that the permanent police presence would "clearly show" that no commemoration of Nazism would be acceptable and would "neutralise" the site.

From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026

Although these practices vary from one community to the next, at the core of each dance, of each song, of each prayer is a commemoration of the gift of corn.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

While flags were flown at half mast, commemorations were scaled back as rescue teams continue to search for survivors.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

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

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2026

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

From Salon ● Jun. 9, 2026

France's air force acrobatics team staged a flyover of the Statue of Liberty on Tuesday, part of commemorations for the upcoming 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence.

From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 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