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Synonyms

notification

American  
[noh-tuh-fi-key-shuhn] / ˌnoʊ tə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən /

noun

notifications plural
  1. 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.

  2. a written or printed notice, announcement, or warning.

    Notifications were mailed to the winners.

  3. Digital Technology. a programmed message or alert sent on an electronic device to inform the user of something.


notification British  
/ ˌnəʊtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən /

noun

  1. the act of notifying

  2. a formal announcement

  3. something that notifies; a notice

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Derived Forms

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Nouns

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."

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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.

The number of Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notices—the required notification of planned layoffs required of employers—have been trending down over the past three months, according to data External link from Revelio Labs.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

Required by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or WARN, the notice must be issued by a company 60 days before a mass layoff.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2025

"With the latest beta software releases of iOS 18.3, iPadOS 18.3, and macOS Sequoia 15.3, Notification summaries for the News & Entertainment category will be temporarily unavailable," an Apple spokesperson added.

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2025

The letter directed individuals to set up a profile through the department’s Victim Notification System to receive updates on the status of the case.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 21, 2024

Notification of service of the writ was formally made to the Common Council on the 18th January.

From London and the Kingdom - Volume II by Sharpe, Reginald R. (Reginald Robinson)

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