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

This spring’s commencement season produced a striking pattern. —Philomena V. Mantella, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026

While some graduates have booed mentions of AI during commencement speeches and companies have increasingly weaved the technology into restructuring plans, Duckett remains optimistic. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 17 June 2026

But on Tuesday, there was a palpable shift in the air as dozens of incarcerated students crossed the graduation stage to receive their diploma from the public high school on Rikers, East River Academy — with a surprise commencement address by Mayor Mamdani. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 16 June 2026

On June 14, the Sex in the City alum swung by Northwestern University to deliver the graduating class's commencement speech. —Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 14 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