rendition

American  

[ren-dish-uhn] / rɛnˈdɪʃ ən /

noun

1. the act of rendering.

   Synonyms:

   version, interpretation

2. a translation.

3. an interpretation, as of a role or a piece of music.

4. the legal procedure or process of sending a suspected criminal to another country to be interrogated or detained, usually for law-enforcement purposes.

5. Archaic. surrender.

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rendition British  

/ rɛnˈdɪʃən /

noun

1. a performance of a musical composition, dramatic role, etc

2. a translation of a text

3. the act of rendering

4. archaic surrender

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verb

1. (tr) to subject (a person) to extraordinary rendition

Other Word Forms

• nonrendition noun

Etymology

Origin of rendition

1595–1605; < Middle French, alteration of reddition (< Middle English reddicion ) < Late Latin redditiōn- (stem of redditiō ), equivalent to Latin reddit ( us ) (past participle of reddere; render ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

A rendition is an interpretation, performance, or translation. Whitney Houston's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner is still used at games today; Roseanne Barr's is not. This word comes from the Old French rendre, which means “to deliver, yield.” So if you want to put your spin on a song or poem or your favorite movie monologue, go ahead and deliver your rendition of it. But know that in modern times this word has also been used as a noun, describing the secret capture and interrogation of a terror suspect in a foreign country that has less strict human rights laws.

Example Sentences

First, unlike the Original Memphis Five, Kaufman performed his rendition in 3/4 time, the waltz rhythm in which Snyder had published his song.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Then he led his players through a fervent rendition of the driving folk-rock tune.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Errol Flynn’s rendition in 1949’s “That Forsyte Woman” is viewed as one of his best performances.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

It took more than 50 years, but we’ve finally gotten a successor to Mel Brooks’s “Young Frankenstein” that focuses on the Bride of F. There’s even another formal-wear rendition of “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 5, 2026

Mrs. Kuen asked me to play for her, so I sat down and pounded out “Everyone Loves My Baby,” or at least my best rendition of it.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Related Words

• depiction
• interpretation
• portrayal
• presentation
• rendering
• transcription
• translation
• version