procession

[pruh-sesh-uhn]

noun

1. the act of moving along or proceeding proceeding in orderly succession or in a formal and ceremonious manner, as a line of people, animals, vehicles, etc.

2. the line or body of persons or things moving along in such a manner.

3. Ecclesiastical.,  an office, litany, etc., said or sung in a religious procession.

4. Theology.,  the emanation of the Holy Spirit from the Father and later, in the Western Church, from the Son: distinguished from the “generation” of the Son and the “unbegottenness” of the Father.

5. the act of coming forth from a source.

verb (used without object)

1. to go in procession.

procession

/ prəˈsɛʃən /

noun

1. the act of proceeding in a regular formation

2. a group of people or things moving forwards in an orderly, regular, or ceremonial manner

3. a hymn, litany, etc, sung in a procession

4. Christianity the emanation of the Holy Spirit

verb

1. rare,  (intr) to go in procession

Word History and Origins

Origin of procession¹

before 1150; early Middle English (< Old French ) < Late Latin prōcessiōn- (stem of prōcessiō ) a religious procession, literally, a marching on. See process, -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of procession¹

C12: via Old French from Latin prōcessiō a marching forwards

Example Sentences

Think a festive procession that travels among the community, Las Posadas are traditionally staged in Mexico between Dec. 16 and 24.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A banner at the front of the procession declared "a better world is possible", while Extinction Rebellion supporters accompanied the march with a mobile sound system.

Read more on BBC

During four days of events to commemorate VE Day, the King and other senior royals, oversaw a military procession through London which was followed by an RAF flypast over Buckingham Palace.

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Thousands of people marched in Manzo’s funeral procession on Sunday, demanding that the federal government take action against the Jalisco cartel and rival gangs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I marveled at the endless procession of uncut pasta sheets, flowing down and around the machinery, which seemed to be turning out tents rather than food.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• cortege 
• motorcade 
• succession 

When To Use

What does procession mean?

A procession is a line of people or vehicles moving along in an orderly and often ceremonial way.A very common example is a funeral procession, which is the line of cars or people traveling together to a burial. A parade is another kind of procession.Procession is the noun form of the verb process, meaning to proceed in or as if in a procession.Example: The procession was so long that they had to block traffic so it could stay together.