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

Section 14, a one-square-mile tract, is located in the center of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Reservation.

From Los Angeles Times

The reservation fee is $2 and is non-refundable.

From Los Angeles Times

A reservation for Horsetail Fall is not needed if a park-goer has already secured a day-use reservation for those dates, has campground reservations at Upper Pines, Wawona, Hodgon Meadow or Camp 4, lodging reservations at Yosemite Valley Lodge or Curry Village or at private hotels or resorts Yosemite West or Foresta.

From Los Angeles Times

On the flip side, you can eat at a restaurant in New York where it's impossible to get a reservation but the food isn’t very good, while in London if the food isn’t great, the restaurant won’t last.

From Salon

If you’re looking for a twofer gift, book a reservation there for sometime in the new year — and let your giftee know by giving them this tin.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• doubt
• restriction
• skepticism