notification
Americannoun
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an act or instance of notifying or informing someone of something; notice.
Lawyers have a duty of notification in cases where a document is accidentally sent to them.
Authors submitting work must expect to wait up to three months before notification of acceptance.
The policy requires prompt notification of the insurer in case of an accident.
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a written or printed notice, announcement, or warning.
Notifications were mailed to the winners.
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Digital Technology. a programmed message or alert sent on an electronic device to inform the user of something.
noun
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the act of notifying
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a formal announcement
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something that notifies; a notice
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of notification
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English notificacioun, from Medieval Latin nōtificātiōn-, stem of nōtificātiō, from nōtificāt(us) “made known” (past participle of nōtificāre “to make known”; see notify) + -iō -ion
Explanation
A notification is a formal notice, request, or warning. You might get a notification from your landlord that you need to shovel the snow on your sidewalk, or a notification from your school that you've won an award. Some notifications arrive in the form of a letter in your mailbox, while others are verbal (you might get a phone call that's a notification that your cat is due for a shot at the vet), and many more are sent as emails or other electronic messages. The Latin source is notificare , "to make known," which comes from the roots notus, "known," and facere, "make."
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.
While a user can’t spend beyond the amount loaded on the card, critics say receiving a notification that they’ve been reimbursed immediately after a purchase can mimic the feeling of gambling and alter spending behavior.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
Several hours later, the notification dings as Salmon and my husband have a pillow fight.
From Slate • May 10, 2026
Carter, of Carlisle, confirmed the sender's profile was his and, in court, he admitted breaching notification requirements by failing to promptly disclose the username, which was part of his strict order requirements.
From BBC • May 8, 2026
The agreement addresses the notification rights of an accused employee who has been removed from that employee’s original position.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
My phone vibrates noisily next to me and I look over, but it’s just a notification from her app, telling me it’s time to take my nighttime meds and set up my G-tube feeding.
From "Five Feet Apart" by Rachael Lippincott
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.
