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Synonyms

observance

American  
[uhb-zur-vuhns] / əbˈzɜr vəns /

noun

  1. an act or instance of following, obeying, or conforming to.

    the observance of traffic laws.
    Synonyms:
    heedfulness, adherence, compliance

  2. a keeping or celebration by appropriate procedure, ceremonies, etc..

    the observance of the Sabbath.

  3. a procedure, ceremony, or rite, as for a particular occasion.

    patriotic observances.

  4. a rule or custom to be followed or obeyed; a customary practice.

  5. Roman Catholic Church.

    1. a rule or discipline for a religious house or order.

    2. a house or order observing a rule or discipline.

  6. an act or instance of watching, noting, or perceiving; observation.

  7. respectful attention or service.

  8. Archaic. courteous attention as to a person; dutiful service.

observance British  
/ əbˈzɜːvəns /

noun

  1. recognition of or compliance with a law, custom, practice, etc

  2. the act of such recognition

  3. a ritual, ceremony, or practice, esp of a religion

  4. observation or attention

  5. the degree of strictness of a religious order or community in following its rule

  6. archaic respectful or deferential attention

"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

Other Word Forms

  • preobservance noun

Etymology

Origin of observance

1175–1225; Middle English observaunce < Old French < Late Latin observantia, Latin: esteem, attention, derivative of observant- (stem of observāns ), present participle of observāre. See observe, -ance

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The two major U.S. stock exchanges — the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq — will be closed on Friday, April 3, in observance of the Christian holiday.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Holy Week was no holiday: The grim observances of Good Friday led solemnly though with mounting joy toward the celebration of the Resurrection and the most important observance on the Christian calendar.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

But what kind of a Jew, with my waning attachment to ritual observance and insistent questioning of Orthodox belief?

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

The gallery’s said it will close “in solidarity with communities across the country and in observance of the nationwide strike.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2026

This was an observance the authorities considered mandatory.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.