dedication

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noun ded·i·ca·tion \ˌde-di-ˈkā-shən\

Definition of dedication

1 religion : an act or rite of dedicating (see ²dedicate 1) to a divine being or to a sacred use the dedication of the temple
2 : a devoting or setting aside for a particular purpose the dedication of funds raised from the bake sale to the class trip
3 : a name and often a message prefixed to a literary, musical, or artistic production in tribute to a person or cause mentioned his family in a brief dedication in his novel
4 : self-sacrificing devotion and loyalty her dedication to the cause required hard work and dedication
5 : a ceremony to mark the official completion or opening of something (such as a building) attended the building's dedication nearly fifty years ago

dedicatory

play \ˈde-di-kə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective

See dedication defined for English-language learners

See dedication defined for kids

dedication was our Word of the Day on 08/16/2016. Hear the podcast!

Examples of dedication in a Sentence

It took a lot of hard work and dedication, but we managed to finish the project on time.
the dedication of the temple
They celebrated the dedication of the new building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Recent Examples of dedication from the Web

A formal dedication of the Wentz Science Center will be made during homecoming activities Oct. 20.

— Naperville Sun, "North Central College science center to be named after alumnus Wentz", 29 June 2017
But even with my newfound resolve and dedication, the occasional latte might still find its way into my life—

— michelle konstantinovsky, Harper's BAZAAR, "Why Do Women Still Think PMS is Normal?", 29 June 2017
The event attracts a geographically diverse fan base comparable to that of the Kentucky Derby, but comprised of slightly fewer drunk frat guys and an above average number of fans with an obvious dedication to the sport.

— danielle lerner, The Courier-Journal, "Lerner | Win or lose, the College World Series is an intoxicating experience", 24 June 2017
Its dedication drew white protesters, including one who raised a Confederate flag.

— sarah rankin, The Seattle Times, "Richmond mayor: Keep Confederate statues, but add context", 22 June 2017
Kossman, who was not at the meeting, received the Robert Russell Fellowship Award from GMJF for her dedication to GMJF Women's Philanthropy for 23 years.

— marvin glassman, Jewish Journal, "Gay woman receives Federation leadership award", 22 June 2017
Dee and Jerry Spenner, who are now happily retired and living in Holiday, Fla., were my first employers and helped instill the important qualities of work dedication, responsibility, time management and pride for accomplishment.

— philip potempa, Post-Tribune, "Strawberry season a traditional and delicious family affair", 9 June 2017
Palestinians are impressed with Trump’s early and personal dedication to resolving the conflict with Israel, Shtayyeh said.

— jonathan ferziger, Bloomberg.com, "Abbas Will Ease Up on Settlements to Spur Talks, Aide Says", 8 June 2017
During that trip the president spoke at the dedication of a monument to NATO’s Article 5 pledge of mutual defense—but notably omitted to endorse Article 5 itself.

— david frum, The Atlantic, "The Death Knell for America's Global Leadership", 31 May 2017

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

Did You Know?

The word dedication first appears in the 14th century as a name for the solemn act of dedicating something, such as a calendar day or a church, to a divine being or to a sacred use. The word—formed from the Latin past participle of dedicare, meaning "to dedicate"—did not take hold in secular contexts until a few centuries later when English speakers began using it to refer to the act of devoting time and energy to a particular purpose. One of the earliest writers to do so is William Shakespeare. "His life I gave him, and did thereto ad / My love without retention or restraint, / All his in dedication….," proclaims his character Antonio in Twelfth Night. Dedication has also come to describe the quality of being loyal or devoted to a cause, ideal, or purpose. Nowadays, people are commonly spoken of as having a dedication to his or her family or work.

Origin and Etymology of dedication

see ¹dedicate

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

DEDICATION Defined for English Language Learners

dedication

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noun

Definition of dedication for English Language Learners

: a feeling of very strong support for or loyalty to someone or something : the quality or state of being dedicated to a person, group, cause, etc.
: a message at the beginning of a book, song, etc., saying that it was written or is being performed in order to honor or express affection for someone
: the act of officially saying that something (such as a new building) was created for a particular purpose (such as worship) or to remember or honor a particular person

DEDICATION Defined for Kids

dedication

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noun ded·i·ca·tion \ˌde-di-ˈkā-shən\

Definition of dedication for Students

1 : an act of setting apart for a special purpose The dedication of the park will take place today.
2 : a message at the beginning of a work of art (as a book or a song) saying that it is written or performed to honor someone
3 : extreme devotion We admire his dedication to the cause.

Law Dictionary

dedication

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noun ded·i·ca·tion \ˌde-di-ˈkā-shən\

Legal Definition of dedication

: a giving up of property to public use that precludes the owner from asserting any further interest in it: as a : an intentional donation of land for public use that is accepted by the proper public authorities b : intentional or negligent surrender to the public of intellectual property that could have been protected by copyright or patent