gratification
Americannoun
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the act of gratifying or the state of being gratified
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something that gratifies
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an obsolete word for gratuity
Other Word Forms
- nongratification noun
- overgratification noun
- pregratification noun
- supergratification noun
Etymology
Origin of gratification
First recorded in 1590–1600, gratification is from the Latin word grātificātiōn- (stem of grātificātiō ). See gratify, -ation
Explanation
Pleasure is gratification, whether it’s given or received. Everyone has desires, and when those desires get fulfilled, that’s gratification. You’re reading this sentence to understand the word gratification, and soon you’ll know it back and forth, which will give you a feeling of gratification. The word comes from the Latin gratificari, meaning “give or do as a favor,” and a deeper root is gratus, which means “pleasing, thankful.” Doing a favor for someone is a surefire ways to create a sense of gratification, both for them and for yourself, being such a kind, giving person.
Vocabulary lists containing gratification
Trumps
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Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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Excerpt from "The Philosophy of Literary Form" by Kenneth Burke
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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.
But shipping costs have increased sharply—especially for home deliveries—and offering near-instant gratification for online orders is no longer a sound business strategy for many.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026
"The sense of gratification I felt when we rallied around an agenda and got results made me feel like this is what I want," Thapa said of his start as a student activist.
From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026
They prefer instant gratification that extends beyond Mexico.
From Salon • Feb. 26, 2026
She told the inquiry the men "prioritised personal gratification and their careers over the wellbeing of their families" and claimed "the deceit and collusion went high up the chain."
From BBC • Dec. 15, 2025
Meanwhile, to its intense gratification, Pennsylvania had also discovered oil—not only discovered it but devised ways to make it industrially useful.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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.
