observance
Americannoun
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observances
plural
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an act or instance of following, obeying, or conforming to.
the observance of traffic laws.
- Synonyms:
- heedfulness, adherence, compliance
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a keeping or celebration by appropriate procedure, ceremonies, etc..
the observance of the Sabbath.
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a procedure, ceremony, or rite, as for a particular occasion.
patriotic observances.
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a rule or custom to be followed or obeyed; a customary practice.
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Roman Catholic Church.
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a rule or discipline for a religious house or order.
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a house or order observing a rule or discipline.
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an act or instance of watching, noting, or perceiving; observation.
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respectful attention or service.
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Archaic. courteous attention as to a person; dutiful service.
noun
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recognition of or compliance with a law, custom, practice, etc
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the act of such recognition
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a ritual, ceremony, or practice, esp of a religion
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observation or attention
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the degree of strictness of a religious order or community in following its rule
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archaic respectful or deferential attention
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
Vocabulary lists containing observance
The Merchant of Venice
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As You Like It
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1.6: Development of Ancient Afro-Eurasian Religions (Sources 1–8)
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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.
See Examples For:
Omusuuga Charles Karumasi, head of the Babiito royal clan, said: "We have done everything in observance of the culture and traditions of Tooro. We must all preserve peace and serenity."
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
One note: The Morning Risk Report won’t be published Monday in observance of the Labor Day holiday in the U.S.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
The observance will take place each year on November 16.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026
Together, they form a layered national observance that blends official programming, political messaging and large-scale public spectacle.
From Salon ● Jul. 4, 2026
He gestured to the worship hall, and then to the statues of the Six standing in silent observance.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
The new family-focused observances are not appearing in random months of the year.
From Salon ● Jun. 6, 2026
Woodson wanted history to be taught fully and honestly, not as separate observances.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 4, 2026
Iran’s president will be laid to rest in his hometown on Thursday, capping days of funeral observances after his death in a helicopter crash left the country without one of its highest-profile leaders.
From New York Times ● May 23, 2024
The family, surnamed You, had gone on a hike after visiting ancestral sites for the traditional grave-sweeping observances.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 4, 2024
If I practise certain religious observances, then there are grounds for thinking the statement is true, but it is difficult to see how one could ever prove it.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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.
