observance

[ uhb-zur-vuhns ]
See synonyms for observance on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. an act or instance of following, obeying, or conforming to: the observance of traffic laws.

  2. a keeping or celebration by appropriate procedure, ceremonies, etc.: the observance of the Sabbath.

  1. a procedure, ceremony, or rite, as for a particular occasion: patriotic observances.

  2. a rule or custom to be followed or obeyed; a customary practice.

  3. Roman Catholic Church.

    • a rule or discipline for a religious house or order.

    • a house or order observing a rule or discipline.

  4. an act or instance of watching, noting, or perceiving; observation.

  5. respectful attention or service.

  6. Archaic. courteous attention as to a person; dutiful service.

Origin of observance

1
1175–1225; Middle English observaunce<Old French <Late Latin observantia,Latin: esteem, attention, derivative of observant- (stem of observāns), present participle of observāre.See observe, -ance

Other words for observance

Other words from observance

  • pre·ob·serv·ance, noun

Words that may be confused with observance

Words Nearby observance

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use observance in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for observance

observance

/ (əbˈzɜːvəns) /


noun
  1. recognition of or compliance with a law, custom, practice, etc

  2. the act of such recognition

  1. a ritual, ceremony, or practice, esp of a religion

  2. observation or attention

  3. the degree of strictness of a religious order or community in following its rule

  4. archaic respectful or deferential attention

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