revelation

[rev-uh-ley-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of revealing or disclosing; disclosure.

   The revelation of previously hidden facts about the group’s activities changed the situation completely.

   Synonyms: exposure, divulgence, admission

2. something revealed or disclosed, especially a striking disclosure, such as of something not before realized.

   Her memoir contained several fascinating revelations about her love life.

3. Theology.

   1. God's disclosure of Himself and His will to His creatures.

   2. an instance of such communication or disclosure.

   3. something thus communicated or disclosed.

   4. something that contains such disclosure, as the Bible.

4. Also called The Revelation of St. John the Divine. Revelation. the last book in the New Testament; the Apocalypse. Rev.

revelation

¹

/ ˌrɛvəˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of disclosing something previously secret or obscure, esp something true

2. a fact disclosed or revealed, esp in a dramatic or surprising way

3. Christianity

   1. God's disclosure of his own nature and his purpose for mankind, esp through the words of human intermediaries

   2. something in which such a divine disclosure is contained, such as the Bible

Revelation

²

/ ˌrɛvəˈleɪʃən /

noun

1. Also called: the Apocalypse.  the Revelation of Saint John the Divine. (popularly, often plural) the last book of the New Testament, containing visionary descriptions of heaven, of conflicts between good and evil, and of the end of the world

Other Word Forms

• revelational adjective
• nonrevelation noun
• prerevelation noun
• unrevelational adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of revelation¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English revelacion, revelacioun, from Anglo-French revelaciun, revelacioun, revelatiun, from Middle French revelacion, revelation, from Late Latin revēlātiōn- (stem of revēlātiō ), equivalent to Latin revēlā(tus) , past participle of revēlāre “to remove the cover from, unveil, lift the lid of, uncover” + -tiōn- verbal noun suffix dentoting the action of the verb; reveal, -tion; apocalypse ( def. )

Word History and Origins

Origin of revelation¹

C14: from Church Latin revēlātiō from Latin revēlāre to _reveal

Example Sentences

The Justice Department’s investigation remains ongoing, but these revelations are likely to intensify scrutiny of the decision to oust her — and could set up a legal fight over her firing.

From Salon

Guerrero lost her post in 2021 after revelations that she disparaged elected officials, city employees and others in a private Facebook group.

From Los Angeles Times

A Sunday New York Times profile heralded their arrival, but the bigger revelation was the 60-year-old actor’s normalcy compared to the burning memories of his blistering, crack-fueled flameout some 15 years ago.

From Salon

A spokesman for the university - of which Mandelson was chancellor between 2016 and 2024 - said his honorary awards have been rescinded "following the revelations that have come to light in recent days".

From BBC

So meeting someone who appreciated music with fewer than 100 beats per minute felt like a revelation.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• announcement 
• discovery 
• epiphany 
• leak 
• news