lesson
Americannoun
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a section into which a course of study is divided, especially a single, continuous session of formal instruction in a subject.
The manual was broken down into 50 lessons.
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a part of a book, an exercise, etc., that is assigned to a student for study.
The lesson for today is on page 22. He worked assiduously at his music lesson.
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something to be learned or studied.
the lessons of the past.
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a useful piece of practical wisdom acquired by experience or study.
That accident certainly taught him a lesson in careful driving.
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something from which a person learns or should learn; an instructive example.
Her faith should serve as a lesson to all of us.
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a reproof or punishment intended to teach one better ways.
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a portion of Scripture or other sacred writing read or appointed to be read at a divine service; lection; pericope.
verb (used with object)
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to teach; instruct; give a lesson to.
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to admonish or reprove.
noun
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a unit, or single period of instruction in a subject; class
an hour-long music lesson
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the content of such a unit
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material assigned for individual study
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something from which useful knowledge or principles can be learned; example
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the principles, knowledge, etc, gained
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a reprimand or punishment intended to correct
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a portion of Scripture appointed to be read at divine service
verb
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of lesson
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English lesso(u)n, from Old French leçon, from Latin lēctiōn-, stem of lēctiō “a reading”; see lection
Explanation
When a story has something to teach its reader, it has a lesson. The lessons of many folktales range from "always tell the truth" to "be brave" to "find a prince." There are different kinds of lessons, but they're all meant to teach someone how to do something or some new information. In a French lesson, a teacher teaches you the French language, and in a sewing lesson, you'll learn how to make something using fabric and a sewing machine. A typical day at school is one lesson after another. Originally, lesson had two meanings: "something learned by a student" and "a reading aloud from the Bible."
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:
The key portfolio lesson is to be careful with companies that depend on falling rates, cheap financing and resilient consumer spending.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
It also provided an early lesson in how justices can uphold the fundamental principles of the Constitution despite intense opposition in much of the nation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
Saying that the investigation, which was not made public, did not conclusively prove any wrongdoing, the lawyers alleged that if Khan were removed from his job, "every future prosecutor will understand the lesson."
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
The broader lesson is that government agencies that do too much often struggle to do anything well.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Gran looked pleased, and Ella felt proud that Brigit remembered her godmother's lesson.
From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton
A big secret of the ambitious McCreary’s success harks back to lessons of simplicity that Bernstein taught him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Striking in these two apparently unrelated episodes is one word in particular — accuracy — and important lessons museums and historians can learn to combat these attacks on the integrity of historical research.
From Salon ● Jul. 28, 2026
Children were in tears when they arrived for lessons and found a horror-movie scene.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
Gavriel’s job, as he sees it, is to teach the lessons of the region’s historic battles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
“And you will work each evening, before sundown, to finish your vocabulary lessons and the fundamentals of arithmetic.”
From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan
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.
