graduation

American  

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

noun

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

• nongraduation noun
• postgraduation adjective
• pregraduation noun

Etymology

Origin of graduation

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

Example Sentences

For many students, graduation represents years of balancing multiple jobs, raising families and overcoming financial and personal hardship.

From The Wall Street Journal

The 37-year-old Ms. Weaver has spent her life since college graduation as a “tenant organizer.”

From The Wall Street Journal

England will leave Australia with few positives, but Bethell's graduation from promising talent to bona fide Test batter will live long in the memory.

From BBC

“It was very defeating,” said Martin, who has been teaching English in Madrid since her May 2025 graduation and is nervous about rebooting her corporate job search.

From The Wall Street Journal

Will Bryson III of St. Paul stuck it out for his senior basketball season even though the team lost pretty much everybody to graduation except for him.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• convocation