perpetuation
Americannoun
-
the act of causing something to continue or go on happening.
The object of the sorority, among others, is the perpetuation of good fellowship, friendship, and sisterly love among its members.
-
the act of preserving something from extinction or oblivion.
I spent many months writing the biographies of my father and grandfather to aid in the perpetuation of their memory.
Other Word Forms
- nonperpetuance noun
- nonperpetuation noun
Etymology
Origin of perpetuation
First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin perpetuātiōn-, stem of perpetuātiō “a making uninterrupted, preservation”; see perpetuate ( def. ), -ion ( def. )
Explanation
When you make something last or keep it going as long as you can, that's perpetuation. The perpetuation of your childhood memories is helped by looking at old photographs. The perpetuation of a family's genes happens when people have children, and the perpetuation of oppression occurs when one dictator after another seizes control of a country's government. When something is made to last longer or is continued, some kind of perpetuation is going on. Both the noun and related verb perpetuate come from a Latin root, perpetuus, which means "continuous or universal."
Vocabulary lists containing perpetuation
Sapiens
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On the Far Side of the Mountain
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A Light in the Darkness
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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.
Chris Sununu is a courageous ally in the perpetuation of civil society, of the peaceful interface between business and government.
From Slate • Sep. 19, 2025
He said when police became involved she continued to deny she had lied, in a "perpetuation of sinister dishonesty".
From BBC • Apr. 28, 2025
And yet, as viewers learn by the end of "Baby Reindeer," Martha's serial-stalking tendencies are a perpetuation of pain she weathered as a child, in an ostensibly unstable home.
From Salon • Apr. 27, 2024
“I’m just tired of the perpetuation of this idea that my art form is somehow evil,” Larsen said.
From New York Times • Apr. 22, 2024
Their professional prestige, sometimes their very jobs depend on the perpetuation of chemical methods.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
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.
