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Synonyms

genuflection

American  
[jen-yoo-flek-shuhn] / ˌdʒɛn jʊˈflɛk ʃən /
especially British, genuflexion

noun

  1. an act of bending the knee or touching it to the ground in reverence or worship.


Etymology

Origin of genuflection

First recorded in 1520–30, genuflection is from the Medieval Latin word genūflexiōn- (stem of genūflexiō ). See genuflect, -ion


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:

To her left, Melvin Gibbs played electric bass—sometimes nonchalantly, sometimes with one bent knee, as if in genuflection.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026

Still, they’ve all grown too used to each other to engage in much genuflection: When you treat an awards campaign like a full-time job, the other contenders might as well be your co-workers.

From New York Times ● Feb. 12, 2024

“It’s gracious. It makes a genuflection in the direction of Biden and America without actually giving anything away.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 15, 2023

Pay close attention to appreciate the artful genuflection to classics like "Excalibur."

From Salon ● May 21, 2021

Yet I make this sentimental genuflection before the nun and the charwoman.

From Youth and the Bright Medusa by Willa Sibert Cather

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