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
She has since made a good recovery and said she was "extremely happy and proud" as the girls met the emergency teams who helped them and were presented with commendation certificates.
From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026
Her former regiment highlighted her bravery when attending to an overturned vehicle in the Falklands that left multiple Welsh Guards injured – which won her a commendation award.
From BBC ● Feb. 21, 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
Miss Bennet was therefore established as a sweet girl, and their brother felt authorised by such commendation to think of her as he chose.
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
The service-member plaintiffs collectively had more than 130 years of military service and more than 80 commendations.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026
Trump, on the last full day of his first term, awarded Fauci and other members of the Operation Warp Speed team presidential commendations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
The sycophants bestowed with medals and presidential commendations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 16, 2025
Judge Jeremy Richardson KC said he would recommend her and receptionist Alicia Richards for commendations for their bravery during the incident.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2024
Though self-praise depreciates, I am compelled sometimes to pronounce my own commendations; but it is only when no friend is present to perform that office for me.
From The History of Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
