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 Blue Jays were seeded seventh in 2007 but played at Hofstra because of commencement at Homewood that weekend. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 4 May 2026

Inside Hemingway's Cafe on its closing day, a table full of graduating Pitt students missed their own commencement, feeling their time was better spent playing cards and drinking inside the bar that brought them together. —Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 4 May 2026

New York University has a new policy for commencement this month. —Aileen Favilla, New York Daily News, 4 May 2026

Denise Malloy-Deadrick Texas Southern University alumna Denise Malloy-Deadrick will deliver the school's afternoon commencement address on May 8. —Samantha Ketterer, Houston Chronicle, 3 May 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