commencement

[ kuh-mens-muhnt ]

noun

1. an act or instance of commencing; beginning:

   the commencement of hostilities.

2. the ceremony of conferring degrees or granting diplomas at the end of the academic year.
3. the day on which this ceremony takes place.

commencement

/ kəˈmɛnsmənt /

noun

1. the beginning; start
2. 1. a ceremony for the presentation of awards at secondary schools
   2. a ceremony for the conferment of academic degrees

Other Words From

• noncom·mencement noun
• recom·mencement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of commencement¹

First recorded in 1225–75; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French; equivalent to commence + -ment

Example Sentences

Digiday caught up with Coleman to talk about commencement pay the gig economy and the future of work.

From Digiday

Former Olympians and members of the public carry the Olympic flame from Athens all the way to the opening ceremony, signifying the official commencement of the games.

From Popular-Science

Both before the ceremony, when families arrived, and again after the commencement, when they spilled happily outside to take photographs, not a single person attending the graduation stopped in the tent to get vaccinated.

From Washington Post

Emancipation was ultimately secured in December 1865 with the ratification of the 13th Amendment and the commencement of federal Reconstruction.

From Washington Post

The plagiarism incident was not the only commencement embarrassment for Caslen.

From Washington Post

You may not remember, but you were our commencement keynote speaker that day at the George Washington University National Center.

From The Daily Beast

This power has been seen recently in a host of cancellations of commencement speakers.

From The Daily Beast

Kudos to Ex-Mayor Mike, whose Harvard commencement address called for inclusion of more conservatives in higher education.

From The Daily Beast

All you really need for an inspiring commencement address is untamed enthusiasm and a big dream.

From The Daily Beast

Speaking at the Commencement Ceremony at West Point, he said, “We are winding down our war in Afghanistan,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

In this little room the galleries had been designed; the windows had looked upon the commencement of the great work.

From Project Gutenberg

But Ulm was only the commencement of the campaign, and even after Austerlitz Napoleon pursued the enemy with grim resolution.

From Project Gutenberg

He graduated at Yale college, and at the commencement of hostilities was appointed to the chief command of the Connecticut troops.

From Project Gutenberg

The first commencement of Union College for conferring degrees in the arts and sciences.

From Project Gutenberg

At the very commencement of the campaign Massna committed a fault which almost ruined his career.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• convocation
• dawning
• graduation
• initiation
• kickoff
• onset
• outset