commencement

noun

com·​mence·​ment kə-ˈmen(t)s-mənt 

1

: an act, instance, or time of commencing

They awaited the commencement of the trial.

2

a

: the ceremonies or the day for conferring degrees or diplomas

A Nobel Prize winner will speak at the commencement.

b

: the period of activities at this time

Commencement will kick off with a family reception followed by a banquet.

Synonyms of commencement

• beginning
• start
• inception
• onset
• launch

Examples of commencement in a Sentence

A poet will speak at the commencement.

there was a large turnout at the commencement of the conference, but the numbers dwindled as it progressed

Recent Examples on the Web

The Saturday Night Live alum returned to her alma mater over the weekend to give the commencement speech. — Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 18 June 2026

The institutions that would be wise to pay attention are not just the ones whose CEOs walk into hostile commencement halls. — Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

Nationwide, college students worried about their job prospects booed AI at commencement ceremonies. — Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 28 June 2026

This graduation season, tech leaders who invoke AI optimism in their commencement speeches are getting booed by classes entering the workforce with anxieties about what AI could mean for their job prospects. — Emma Bowman, NPR, 19 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

see commence

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

commencement

noun

com·​mence·​ment kə-ˈmen(t)s-mənt 

1

: an act, instance, or time of commencing

2

: the ceremonies or the day for presenting degrees or diplomas to graduates of a school or college