celebration
Americannoun
-
the act of celebrating.
We want to do something special in celebration of Amy’s great new job.
-
a party or other festive event for celebrating something.
Don’t you think the birthday celebrations for preschoolers in this neighborhood are a bit over the top?
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of celebration
First recorded in 1480–90; from Latin celebrātiōn- (stem of celebrātiō ) “large gathering, widespread use, celebration (of a festival)”; see celebrate, -ion
Explanation
A celebration is a joyful diversion. Your math class might have a celebration when you learn that the midterm has been postponed for a week. A celebration can be a festive party commemorating some joyous occasion, like your grandparents' fiftieth anniversary celebration or your brother's birthday celebration. It can also be a less formal marking of a happy event, like the arrival of your new puppy. Another meaning of celebration is a religious ceremony, such as communion or a bar mitzvah.
Vocabulary lists containing celebration
Party Parlance for Mardi Gras
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Passover Vocabulary
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List 4
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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.
See Examples For:
That meant an August 2023 wedding celebration held at their home was the first time anyone stepped foot on the fescue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
Amsterdam came alive with music, colour and celebration on Saturday, as thousands of people flocked to the canals to watch the city's annual Pride boat parade.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
She said new documents indicate that damage to the landmark was "the result of flawed installation by the contractor... and the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration."
From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026
The plan was for a multiday celebration in Carmel, a seaside town in Northern California, with the ceremony at a Tuscan-style villa and the send-off at a spa in the forest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
As the day of Richard’s birthday celebration drew near, she was given a list of tasks each morning that found every moment of her day filled.
From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland
Just listening through to all the celebrations after Windsor and Hollingsworth and, finally, Obergefell was like light therapy in the depths of winter.
From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2026
With plans for watch parties and other accessible celebrations for fans, Torosis envisions Santa Monica being “the place to be” during the Games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
Aiming to resurface the pool ahead of July 4 celebrations, the government had awarded a contract to a Virginia-based company, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, without a full bidding process.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026
The story - or myth - goes, that following their last win in 1951 the Mayo team's boisterous celebrations on an open-back lorry interrupted a funeral in the village of Foxford.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
I did not want them to make a big deal because I expected that all the celebrations would just add to future bad memories.
From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter
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.
