commendation
Americannoun
-
commendations
plural
-
the act of commending; recommendation; praise.
commendation for a job well done.
- Synonyms:
- applause, approbation, approval
- Antonyms:
- condemnation
-
something that commends, as a formal recommendation or an official citation or award.
a commendation for bravery.
- Antonyms:
- condemnation
-
Feudal Law. the placing of oneself or one's land under the protection of a lord so as to become his vassal.
-
Archaic. commendations, a complimentary greeting or message.
noun
-
the act or an instance of commending; praise
-
an award
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of commendation
1175–1225; Middle English commendacioun (< Anglo-French ) < Latin commendātiōn- (stem of commendātiō ) a commending to God. See commend, -ation
Explanation
If you got a commendation for your brave deeds during the earthquake, then congratulations! A commendation is an award praising someone’s actions. A commendation can be an official award for notable action, often given out by a government or other group. A police officer might receive a special commendation for being particularly brave. This kind of commendation is often awarded at a public ceremony. You can also use commendation more broadly to mean "praise," even if it's not official. It'd be nice to tell your teacher she deserves commendation for the good-natured way she has handled your rowdy class all year.
Vocabulary lists containing commendation
Richard Nixon's "Checkers" Speech (1952)
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50 Words from Jane Austen's "Pride & Prejudice"
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Twelfth Night
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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.
See Examples For:
That remarkable level of discipline should have gotten John a commendation.
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2026
The jurists are hardly due a commendation, since their previous ruling on the question was reversed 9-0 by the Supreme Court this summer.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025
The service will end with prayers for Pope Francis and a final commendation - a concluding prayer where the Pope will be formally entrusted to God.
From BBC ● Apr. 25, 2025
But Jeremy Secomb and Jacob Dickey’s exquisite rendition of “Pretty Women,” a lilting melody amid the murderous machinations of “Sweeney Todd,” deserves special commendation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2025
General Moore reads a citation, then presents Joey with the Medal of Freedom with Silver Palm, a commendation given by President Harry S. Truman to honor civilians who demonstrated incredible courage during the war.
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
The service-member plaintiffs collectively had more than 130 years of military service and more than 80 commendations.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026
Tietjens was awarded several commendations during his career, including a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and an Iraq campaign medal, according to the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026
She said Mr Berrill, who has received two police commendations, was in the group for about two-and-a-half months and had sent 90 messages out of thousands.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2025
“He engaged in extensive self-help programming, maintained an excellent work history, and received numerous commendations from correctional staff for his positive transformation.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2025
Enuious aboue all measure; nothing was so grieuous to his eyes as the prosperitie, nothing so harsh to his eares as the commendations of others.
From The Lives of the III Normans, Kings of England: William the First, William the Second, Henrie the First by John Hayward
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.
