benediction

American  

[ben-i-dik-shuhn] / ˌbɛn ɪˈdɪk ʃən /

noun

1. an utterance of good wishes.

2. the form of blessing pronounced by an officiating minister, as at the close of divine service.

3. a ceremony by which things are set aside for sacred uses, as a church, vestments, or bells.

4. Also called Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.  (usually initial capital letter) a service consisting of prayers, at least one prescribed hymn, censing of the congregation and the Host, and a blessing of the congregation by moving in the form of a cross the ciborium or monstrance containing the Host.

5. the advantage conferred by blessing; a mercy or benefit.

---

benediction British  

/ ˌbɛnɪˈdɪkʃən /

noun

1. an invocation of divine blessing, esp at the end of a Christian religious ceremony

2. a Roman Catholic service in which the congregation is blessed with the sacrament

3. the state of being blessed

---

Other Word Forms

• benedictory adjective
• prebenediction noun

Etymology

Origin of benediction

1400–50; late Middle English (< Middle French ) < Latin benedictiōn- (stem of benedictiō ). See Benedictus, -ion

Explanation

A benediction is a blessing — either a formal one that you might hear in a church service or an informal one that you might utter when you take any leap of faith. The noun benediction comes from the Latin roots bene, meaning "well" and diction meaning "to speak" — literally to speak well of. Although it is most often used in the religious sense of prayer and blessing — especially a ceremonial prayer at the end of a church service — it can mean any expression of good wishes. "Good luck on the test!" the mother cried in benediction as her son set off for school.

Example Sentences

But even he receives a mote of benediction, especially when he commits sins he can’t undo.

From Salon • Sep. 7, 2025

Ma also offered a benediction to the repair shop, playing the Prelude from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major on the same borrowed cello.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2025

Advice given on New Year’s takes on the air of a benediction, a strong first sentence with which to begin a new chapter.

From New York Times • Dec. 30, 2023

“For this reason, pastoral prudence must adequately discern whether there are forms of benediction, requested by one or more persons, that do not transmit a mistaken conception of marriage,” he wrote.

From Washington Times • Oct. 2, 2023

Reverend Dr. J. H. Barrows read a blessing and benediction and then, at the request of exposition officials, read a speech that Higinbotham had prepared for the originally planned ceremony.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• invocation