investiture

[ in-ves-ti-cher, -choor ]

noun

1. the act or process of investing.
2. the formal bestowal, confirmation, or presentation of rank, office, or a possessory or prescriptive right, usually involving the giving of insignia or an official title. lay investiture.
3. the state of being invested, as with a garment, quality, or office.
4. something that covers or adorns.
5. Archaic. something that invests.

investiture

/ ɪnˈvɛstɪtʃə /

noun

1. the act of presenting with a title or with the robes and insignia of an office or rank
2. (in feudal society) the formal bestowal of the possessory right to a fief or other benefice
3. a less common word for investment

Derived Forms

• inˈvestitive, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of investiture¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin investītūra, equivalent to investīt(us) (past participle of investīre “to install”; invest ) + -ūra -ure

Example Sentences

The Princess of Wales has embraced a teenage girl with an aggressive form of cancer during an an investiture at Windsor Castle.

From BBC

Liz was given the opportunity to take photos of the investiture, featuring cyclist Mark Cavendish and ex-footballer Ally McCoist, after Prince William heard about Liz through his patronage of London Air Ambulance Charity.

From BBC

Mr Puigdemont's disruptive appearance near the Catalan parliament in Barcelona was moments before the investiture of Socialist Salvador Illa as the new Catalan president.

From BBC

On Thursday morning, Mr Puigdemont briefly addressed hundreds of supporters who gathered near the Catalan parliament in Barcelona, shortly ahead of the expected investiture of a new head of the Catalan government.

From BBC

He also aims to disrupt the investiture of Socialist Salvador Illa as the new Catalan president today.

From BBC