Word
commemoration
Phoneticscom·mem·o·ra·tion, stress on the fourth syllable
US/kəˌmɛmɝˈeɪʃən/
UK/kəmˌɛməɹˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01the act of honoring a memory
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a ceremony or event held to remember and show respect for someone or something important.
n. the act of commemorating; a formal observance or celebration intended to honor the memory of a person or historical event.
“The town held a quiet commemoration for the soldiers who died in the war.”
“The annual commemoration of the armistice serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by previous generations.”
Usage
Often used with the preposition 'of'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a memorial object
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. something created to help people remember a person or event, like a statue or a plaque.
n. a physical object, monument, or memorial that serves the purpose of preserving a memory.
“The bronze plaque was placed on the wall as a commemoration of the school's founder.”
“Architects designed the monument not merely as a decoration, but as a lasting commemoration of the city's resilience after the earthquake.”
03religious prayer
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Religion Formal · Technical
n. a special mention of a saint or a dead person during a religious service.
n. the specific mention or naming of individual saints or the deceased within formal prayers or liturgy.
“The priest included a special commemoration for the saints during the morning prayer.”
“In the traditional liturgy, the commemoration of the martyrs follows the primary collect of the day.”
Synonyms
04Oxford festival
C2 · Proficiency Plural noun British English · Formal
n. a famous annual festival at Oxford University with special ceremonies.
n. the primary festival of the Oxford academic year, featuring the Encaenia and various social celebrations.
“Many graduates returned to the university to attend the Commemoration events in June.”
“Commemoration remains a cornerstone of the Oxford social calendar, traditionally held in the ninth week of the Trinity term.”
Teaching tip
This sense is highly specific to the University of Oxford and is usually capitalized in that context.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Brown argues that its Revolutionary pedigree probably developed later, amid the centennial commemorations of the 1870s, when many American families were emphasizing their connections to the nation's founding era.” “Between 1915 and 1918 , communities across the United States combined commemorations of the nation’s founding with Americanization Day , a holiday held to encourage immigrants to fully assimilate into American society.” Etymology
First attested in 1384, in Middle English; inherited from Middle English commemoracioun, from Old French commemoration (French commémoration), from Latin commemorātiō. By surface analysis, commemorate + -ion
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/commemoration