benediction

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noun bene·dic·tion \ ˌbe-nə-ˈdik-shən \

Definition of benediction

1 religion :the invocation (see invocation 1a) of a blessing

a prayer of benediction

; especially :the short blessing with which public worship is concluded

dismissed the congregation with a benediction

2 :something that promotes goodness or well-being

… the Mexican sun is no pleasant benediction like our northern sun …
—Gertrude Diamant

3 often capitalized, Christianity :a Roman Catholic or Anglo-Catholic devotion (see devotion 1c) including the exposition of the eucharistic Host in the monstrance and the blessing of the people with it

4 :an expression of good wishes

… yearning for the benediction of the New York critics …
—Time

See benediction defined for English-language learners

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Examples of benediction in a Sentence

He dismissed the congregation with a benediction.
the priest offered a benediction for the missing children

Recent Examples of benediction from the Web

Rev. Terry Schmitt gave the invocation and benediction.

— dennis hohenberger, Courant Community, "West Hartford Remembers The Fallen," 7 June 2017
Deacon David Madejski, of St. Mary's Church, gave the opening prayer and benediction.

— dennis hohenberger, Courant Community, "Stonebrook Village Dedicates Library To Fred 'Bud' Cooney," 7 June 2017
The benediction was given by Pastor Milligan of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

— mark holan/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Communities celebrate Memorial Day with parades, services," 29 May 2017
Rev. Kevin Folger of the Cleveland Baptist Church gave the benediction.

— mark holan/special to cleveland.com, cleveland.com, "Communities celebrate Memorial Day with parades, services," 29 May 2017
Invocation, moment of silence and benediction by Maj.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Memorial Day events around North County," 25 May 2017
Ms. Hood saw the priest her husband once was, offering blessings and benedictions to his congregation.

— catherine porter photographs and video by leslye davis, New York Times, "At His Own Wake, Celebrating Life and the Gift of Death," 25 May 2017
The ceremony includes a rifle salute, taps and a benediction by Post 250 Chaplain Charles Hartley.

— kimberly fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Marching bands, Scouts and veterans set for Hinsdale Memorial Day observances," 23 May 2017
The melody is fond and gentle; the song sounds like a benediction.

— jia tolentino, The New Yorker, "Perfume Genius’s New Album, “No Shape,” Is Full of Sunlight," 8 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'benediction.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

In benediction, the bene root is joined by another Latin root, dictio, "speaking", so the word's meaning becomes something like "well-wishing". Perhaps the best-known benediction is the so-called Aaronic Benediction from the Bible, which begins, "May the Lord bless you and keep you". An important section of the Catholic Mass was traditionally known as the Benedictus, after its first word (meaning "blessed"). It was St. Benedict who organized the first Christian monasteries; many Christians have been baptized Benedict in his honor, and 16 popes have taken it as their papal name.

Origin and Etymology of benediction

Middle English benediccioun, from Late Latin benediction-, benedictio, from benedicere to bless, from Latin, to speak well of, from bene well (akin to Latin bonus good) + dicere to say — more at bounty, diction

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First Known Use: 15th century

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