commencement

American  

[kuh-mens-muhnt] / kəˈmɛns mənt /

noun

• commencements
  plural

1. an act or instance of commencing; beginning.

   the commencement of hostilities.

2. the ceremony of conferring degrees or granting diplomas at the end of the academic year.

3. the day on which this ceremony takes place.

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commencement British  

/ kəˈmɛnsmənt /

noun

1. the beginning; start

2. 1. a ceremony for the presentation of awards at secondary schools

   2. a ceremony for the conferment of academic degrees

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• noncommencement
  noun
• recommencement
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• commencements
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of commencement

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French; equivalent to commence + -ment

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

commencement commencements

In 1970, at the height of the anti-Vietnam War movement, Princeton University responded to those trends and dropped “My Country, ’Tis of Thee” from its official commencement program.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026

While she did not attend college, Parton was presented with an honorary doctorate of humane and musical letters from Tennessee in 2009 following her commencement address to the graduating class of that year.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026

A 2026 survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers found that 44% of graduating seniors had received at least one job offer before commencement.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

Plebes, prohibited from fraternizing with girls, celebrated spring commencement by marching across the walkways and climbing Herndon.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026

“I hate that she’s probably going to end up giving the fifth-grade commencement speech at graduation this year.”

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio

“I have presided over 28 commencements as a president and dean, and those ceremonies are about celebrating the graduates and their supporters,” Schapiro wrote in a letter declining the speech.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026

Now, he’s weathered two commencements buffeted by change.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2025

Few West Coast universities rival the pomp of the University of Southern California’s commencements.

From New York Times ● May 8, 2024

Poet laureates represent the state in inaugural speeches, commencements, poetry readings and educational events, said Kim Konikow, executive director of the North Dakota Council on the Arts.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 7, 2023

For my final round of commencements as First Lady, I spoke at Jackson State University in Mississippi, another historically black school, using the opportunity to talk about striving for excellence.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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Related Words

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• dawning
• graduation
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• kickoff
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