coronation

noun

cor·​o·​na·​tion ˌkȯr-ə-ˈnā-shən 

ˌkär-

: the act or occasion of crowning

also : accession to the highest office

Examples of coronation in a Sentence

the coronation of Queen Elizabeth

Recent Examples on the Web

Her official coronation took place the following year, on June 2, 1953, at Westminster Abbey. —Hope Coke, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026

The experience also includes a selection of finger sandwiches, including options like coronation Hmong chicken or traditional bánh mì, as well as pastries and cakes, scones with jam and clotted cream, and a cheese and charcuterie platter. —Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026

The brooch Camilla wore to church on Sunday was first seen on her in 2023, the same year of the coronation. —Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026

But New York State’s special elections shut voters out, replacing democratic choice with a process that looks more like a coronation than a contest. —Grace Rauh, New York Daily News, 3 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English coronacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French coronacion, borrowed from Medieval Latin corōnātiōn-, corōnātiō (Late Latin, "wreathing"), from Latin corōnare "to deck with flowers, wreathe, crown entry 2" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for coronation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

coronation

noun

cor·​o·​na·​tion ˌkȯr-ə-ˈnā-shən 

ˌkär-

: the act or ceremony of crowning a king or queen