visitation

[ viz-i-tey-shuh n ]

/ ˌvɪz ɪˈteɪ ʃən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR visitation ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of visiting.

a formal visit, as one permitted by a court's granting of visitation rights or by parents invited to a school to observe the work of students.

a visit for the purpose of making an official examination or inspection, as of a bishop to a diocese.

(usually initial capital letter) the visit of the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth. Luke 1:36–56.

(initial capital letter) a church festival, held on July 2, in commemoration of this visit.

the administration of comfort or aid, or of affliction or punishment: a visitation of the plague.

an affliction or punishment, as from God.

the appearance or coming of a supernatural influence or spirit.

Nearby words

visionary, visioned, visit, visitable, visitant, visitation, visitation rights, visitatorial, visiting card, visiting fireman, visiting nurse

Origin of visitation

1275–1325; < Latin vīsitātiōn- (stem of vīsitātiō), equivalent to vīsitāt(us) (past participle of vīsitāre; see visit, -ate¹) + -iōn- -ion; replacing Middle English visitacioun < Anglo-French < Latin, as above

Related forms

vis·it·a·tion·al, adjectivein·ter·vis·it·a·tion, nounre·vis·it·a·tion, noun

Can be confused

visit visitation

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for visitation

Those who do wish to attend, however, must be pre-approved for visitation ahead of the wedding day.
Saying Yes to the Dress—Behind Bars|Caitlin Dickson|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The source of dispute: the visitation arrangements for their dog.
Divorce Is Going to the Dogs, Literally|Keli Goff|June 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the same scene, he refuses to sign papers that would allow him visitation rights.
Nine Craziest Moments From ‘Jobs’|Anna Klassen|August 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
He does not have custody of his child, nor did the Japanese courts grant him visitation rights.
Japan’s Child Kidnapping Problem|Nathalie-Kyoko Stucky, Jake Adelstein|May 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST

The extent of visitation and other means of contact between the child and their parents are also made by the court.
Japan’s Child Kidnapping Problem|Nathalie-Kyoko Stucky, Jake Adelstein|May 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It requires a torpid temperament to remain calm under this visitation.
Life and Work in Benares and Kumaon, 1839-1877|James Kennedy
Three nights a week were devoted by the mission to visitation work.
The Man Who Knew|Edgar Wallace
By the way, he may now expect a visitation of the Criminal Anarchy law.
Selected Works of Voltairine de Cleyre|Voltairine de Cleyre
If they doo, they are not onely disobedient, but are seuerely punished at the time of their visitation.
The History of the Great and Mighty Kingdom of China and the Situation Thereof, Volume I (of 2)|Juan Gonzalez de Mendoza
A strong, inspiring personality is not a gift of the gods, nor is a weak and ineffective personality a visitation of Providence.
How to Teach Religion|George Herbert Betts

British Dictionary definitions for visitation (1 of 2)

visitation

/ (ˌvɪzɪˈteɪʃən) /

noun

an official call or visit for the purpose of inspecting or examining an institution, esp such a visit made by a bishop to his diocese

a visiting of punishment or reward from heaven

any disaster or catastrophea visitation of the plague

an appearance or arrival of a supernatural being

any call or visit

informal an unduly prolonged social call

Derived Forms

visitational, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for visitation (2 of 2)

Visitation

/ (ˌvɪzɪˈteɪʃən) /

noun

the visit made by the Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth (Luke 1:39–56)
the Church festival commemorating this, held on July 2

a religious order of nuns, the Order of the Visitation, founded in 1610 by St Francis of Sales and dedicated to contemplation and the cultivation of humility, gentleness, and sisterly love

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