observance

American  

[uhb-zur-vuhns] / əbˈzɜr vəns /

noun

1. an act or instance of following, obeying, or conforming to.

   the observance of traffic laws.

   Synonyms:

   heedfulness, adherence, compliance

2. a keeping or celebration by appropriate procedure, ceremonies, etc..

   the observance of the Sabbath.

3. a procedure, ceremony, or rite, as for a particular occasion.

   patriotic observances.

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

5. Roman Catholic Church.

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

   2. a house or order observing a rule or discipline.

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

7. respectful attention or service.

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

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observance British  

/ əbˈzɜːvəns /

noun

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

2. the act of such recognition

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

4. observation or attention

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

6. archaic respectful or deferential attention

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Other Word Forms

• preobservance
  noun

Etymology

Origin of observance

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

Explanation

Observance is when you obey a rule or law, or follow a long-standing tradition. If your religious observance requires you to fast for several days, you might ask your track coach to let you sit out a race. Observance of traffic laws will usually keep you from getting expensive speeding tickets. And, practicing a religion usually includes various kinds of observance, from attending church or temple to wearing certain items of clothing. You can also use this noun to mean "watching or noticing," like a bird watcher's careful observance of a bush where he once spotted a rare finch — although this is more commonly called observation.

Example Sentences

Council published this month “condemning” the campus Hillel for bringing Tov to speak at an April 14 event tied to Yam HaShoah, an annual observance of the Holocaust.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

The two major U.S. stock exchanges — the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq — will be closed on Friday, April 3, in observance of the Christian holiday.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

But “Austenland” is the latest installment in the BritBox celebration “Austen Forever,” and a film that represents the sentiments and inspiration for the months-long observance of the author’s 250th birthday last December.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Equity and fixed-income markets are closed in observance of Presidents Day.

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

A wise ruler, therefore, cannot and should not keep his word when such an observance would be to his disadvantage, and when the reasons that caused him to make a promise are removed.

From "The Prince" by Niccolò Machiavelli

Related Words

• acknowledgment
• adherence
• celebration
• compliance
• fulfillment