commencement
Americannoun
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an act or instance of commencing; beginning.
the commencement of hostilities.
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the ceremony of conferring degrees or granting diplomas at the end of the academic year.
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the day on which this ceremony takes place.
noun
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the beginning; start
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a ceremony for the presentation of awards at secondary schools
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a ceremony for the conferment of academic degrees
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Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of commencement
First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French; equivalent to commence + -ment
Explanation
A commencement is the act of starting out, or blazing a new trail. The suffix -ment makes the word commencement a noun — a thing, an activity, a start. The word can be used for the beginning of anything, from a business meeting to a vacation trip to a marriage. Anything that begins has a moment of commencement. That's why a graduation ceremony is called a commencement — a graduate is embarking on a new life, and the commencement ritual marks the official beginning of that life.
Vocabulary lists containing commencement
The Vocabulary of College
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A Graduation Lexicon
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Steve Jobs's Commencement Address (2005)
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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.
Billie Jean King, 82, received her bachelor’s degree in history from the same school she attended more than 60 years ago and also gave a commencement speech.
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026
"It would be inappropriate to attempt to set a date... the defence position is that a commencement is contingent upon a determination... of Duterte's fitness to stand trial," the defence said.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
Air Force Academy later this week, continuing the administration’s presence across all major service branches during commencement season.
From Salon • May 24, 2026
It’s graduation season, so you know what that means: a lotta commencement speeches from wealthy figures of renown—all directed to debt-burdened, half-asleep, cap-and-gown-clad graduates worried about the frozen job market awaiting them.
From Slate • May 20, 2026
“None of you will be allowed to attend either the graduation commencement or the baccalaureate service,” Mother Lois announced over dinner.
From "Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High" by Melba Pattillo Beals
Definitions 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.
