reservation

[ rez-er-vey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of keeping back, withholding, or setting apart.
2. the act of making an exception or qualification.
3. an exception or qualification made expressly or tacitly:

   to accept something, but with inner reservations.

4. a tract of public land set apart for a special purpose, as for the use of an Indian tribe.
5. an arrangement to secure accommodations at a restaurant or hotel, on a boat or plane, etc.
6. the record kept or assurance given of such an arrangement:

   Sorry, the hotel has no reservation under that name.

reservation

/ ˌrɛzəˈveɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of reserving
2. something reserved, esp hotel accommodation, a seat on an aeroplane, in a theatre, etc
3. often plural a stated or unstated qualification of opinion that prevents one's wholehearted acceptance of a proposal, claim, statement, etc
4. an area of land set aside, esp (in the US) for American Indian peoples
5. the strip of land between the two carriageways of a dual carriageway
6. the act or process of keeping back, esp for oneself; withholding
7. law a right or interest retained by the grantor in property granted, conveyed, leased, etc, to another

   a reservation of rent

Other Words From

• nonres·er·vation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reservation¹

1350–1400; Middle English reservacioun < Middle French reservation, equivalent to reserv ( er ) to reserve + -ation -ation

Example Sentences

What is offered to another person without reservation can also be taken without recompense.

From New York Times

Her tribe’s reservation was established in 1939, along with those of three other tribes.

From Los Angeles Times

In the hope of curtailing damage to surrounding areas, park officials announced that weekend visits up to Horsetail Fall in February will now require reservations.

From Los Angeles Times

There are also deep reservations about holding this key event in a country with a poor human rights record, where political opposition isn’t tolerated.

From BBC

He hopes to use these vehicles to fulfill existing San Diego reservations and “keep the smiles on our customers’ faces.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• doubt
• restriction
• skepticism