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
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 Visalia Unified School District’s public board meeting in March was a festive and upbeat affair with a performance by a student chamber music group and a commendation for a high school cheer squad.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 19, 2025
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
First there came mimeographed letters of commendation, then real letters signed by the Secretary of the Treasury, and not with a rubber stamp either.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
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
Inside, the walls were filled with commendations and newspaper clippings celebrating Ramos’ good works.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2025
The annual amateur competition attracted more than 700 entries from 34 countries, with a total of 24 images receiving commendations this year.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2023
This noble act has elicited the warmest commendations from every party and it may be considered the one redeeming incident in the gloomy history of that unfortunate day.
From The Strange Story of Harper's Ferry With Legends of the Surrounding Country by Joseph Barry
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.
