congratulation

noun con·grat·u·la·tion \ kən-ˌgra-chə-ˈlā-shən , -ˌgra-jə- \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Examples: congratulation in a Sentence

Definition of congratulation

1 : the act of congratulating

2 : a congratulatory expression —usually used in plural

Congratulations on your promotion.

See congratulation defined for English-language learners

See congratulation defined for kids

Examples of congratulation in a Sentence

Let me offer you my congratulations for being elected.
Please send her my congratulations.
I sent her a letter of congratulations.

Recent Examples of congratulation from the Web

Thank you very much, and congratulations to the Class of 2018.

— katie reilly, Time, "'Be Your Own Cheerleader.' Mindy Kaling Gives Dartmouth Graduates Advice on Delusion, Dating and Success," 11 June 2018
Messages and posts letting the community know who was serving at which house popped up throughout the day and evening and people made the rounds to collect shares and give thanks and congratulations.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska’s North Slope whalers bring in spring bounty," 7 May 2018
Thanks to everyone who voted and congratulations to all the winners.

— hartford magazine, courant.com, "Best Of Hartford Magazine 2018 Winners," 28 Apr. 2018
Thanks to everyone who entered and congratulations to this year's winners.

— free press staff report, Detroit Free Press, "Sterling Heights man wins Free Press Oscar Derby," 22 Mar. 2018
On the night of the awards ceremony, his phone pinged with congratulations from fellow pitmasters, including Best Chef Southeast semifinalist Sam Jones of North Carolina, Pat Martin of Nashville, and Aaron Siegel of Home Team BBQ in Charleston.

— stephanie barna, The Christian Science Monitor, "South Carolina pitmaster breaks mold as James Beard winner," 21 May 2018
Such moments of self-congratulation wouldn’t work unless they were offset by moments of vulnerability, and Swift gives us plenty.

— andy hermann, Los Angeles Magazine, "Taylor Swift’s Reputation Tour Isn’t a Disaster—It’s a Victory Lap," 21 May 2018
That includes not giving more weight to journalism’s numerous self-congratulations throughout the year and instead holding the industry’s feet to the fire.

— refinery29.com, "The White House Correspondents’ Dinner Debacle Proves That We — & The Media —Haven’t Learned Anything," 30 Apr. 2018
On the one hand, there’s the dinner for the people in the room, the stuff of self-congratulation and ceremonial pomp.

— megan garber, The Atlantic, "The Slow, Awkward Death of the White House Correspondents' Dinner," 29 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of congratulation

see congratulate

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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CONGRATULATION Defined for English Language Learners

congratulation

noun

Definition of congratulation for English Language Learners

congratulations : a message telling someone that you are happy because of his or her success or good luck : words that congratulate someone
: the act of telling someone that you are happy because of his or her success or good luck : the act of congratulating someone