English Reference
Noun

damnation

n.
C2 Proficiency US /dæmˈneɪʃən/ UK /dæmnˈeɪʃən/ damna·tion UK spelling damnations Religion

n.the state of being sent to hell as a punishment for doing something very bad. It is a serious word often used in religious or very formal writing.

n.the state of being condemned to eternal punishment in hell; the act of condemning someone to such a fate. Often used in theological or literary contexts to describe a severe moral judgment.


SIMPLE

The story ends with the character's damnation.

CONTEXTUAL

In many religious traditions, the soul's damnation is seen as a direct result of rejecting divine grace.

COMPLEX

The poet explores the theme of damnation, questioning whether the protagonist's fall from grace was a result of his own free will or a predestined fate.

Except Mr T’s Bible quotes are for real, and they focus on the loving aspect of the Old Testament rather than the hellfire and damnation.

The Guardian· 3 Sept 2026

From Middle English dampnacioun, from Old French dampnacion, from Latin damnatio.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin damnatio
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Occasional
Updated