graduation

American  

[graj-oo-ey-shuhn] / ˌgrædʒ uˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

• graduations
  plural

1. an act of graduating; the state of being graduated.

2. the ceremony of conferring degrees or diplomas, as at a college or school.

3. arrangement in degrees, levels, or ranks.

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graduation British  

/ ˌɡrædjʊˈeɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of graduating or the state of being graduated

2. the ceremony at which school or college degrees and diplomas are conferred

3. a mark or division or all the marks or divisions that indicate measure on an instrument or vessel

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nongraduation
  noun
• pregraduation
  noun
• postgraduation
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• graduations
  plural

Etymology

Origin of graduation

1375–1425; late Middle English graduacion < Medieval Latin graduātiōn- (stem of graduātiō ). See graduate, -ion

Explanation

Graduation happens when you successfully complete an academic program, like high school or college. Then you go to a graduation ceremony. Scientists might talk about the graduation lines on beakers and rulers that mark out units of measurement. But when most people hear this word, they think about finishing school. Students and their families celebrate graduation from high school, college, training programs, and even kindergarten. At graduation ceremonies, people often wear funny tasseled hats and long robes, then walk up one by one to get an official diploma or certificate.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

graduation graduations

That fee, should it be finalized, would force most international students to leave the country after graduation, rather than building a career in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

The receiving corps was hit hard by graduation but the offensive line should be much improved with the addition of Servite transfer Elisha Mueller.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

The school will issue qualifications confirming a machine's ability to do a specific role -- "much like a human's graduation certificate", said Zhao.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

Their stories reveal the trade-offs of early graduation: Every semester saved in tuition is also potentially one less semester to gain the internships and connections that help launch careers.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

After graduation from either the Adolf Hitler School or Napola, chosen students could continue their training at one of the Order Castles.

From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Several graduations this spring featured tone-deaf commencement speeches praising artificial intelligence, which the crowds greeted with a symphony of boos.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026

For some daughters, the night marked the first time they’d danced with their father, a bittersweet reminder of lost birthdays, prom-nights and graduations.

From Salon ● Nov. 30, 2025

The school hosted 11 high school graduations last summer with no incidents and believes fans should feel comfortable attending.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2025

Ms Gray has been appointed a pro-chancellor at QUB, so will attend ceremonies like graduations too.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2025

It caused quite a flurry in a family with a history of more births than graduations.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times

Related Words

• convocation