graduation

noun grad·u·a·tion \ ˌgra-jə-ˈwā-shən \

Updated on: 6 Apr 2018

Definition of graduation

1 : a mark on an instrument or vessel indicating degrees or quantity; also : these marks

2 a : the award or acceptance of an academic degree or diploma

b : commencement

3 : arrangement in degrees or ranks

See graduation defined for English-language learners

See graduation defined for kids

Examples of graduation in a Sentence

He joined the navy after graduation.
We had a party to celebrate her graduation from high school.
They took lots of pictures at their son's graduation.

Recent Examples of graduation from the Web

During her tenure, MPS' four-year graduation rate has ticked up slightly.

— annysa johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Darienne Driver is leaving MPS for position at United Way in Michigan," 3 Apr. 2018
Citywide, the graduation rate last year was 87.5 percent for Asian students and 83.2 percent for white students.

— elizabeth a. harris and kate taylor, New York Times, "Welcome to New York, and Here’s a To-Do List," 2 Apr. 2018
For instance, one of the categories is graduation rate, which only applies to high schools.

— lori higgins, Detroit Free Press, "Is your school among the top-rated in Michigan? The state has a new way to gauge quality," 2 Apr. 2018
That district's per pupil spending is $10,624 with a graduation rate of 95.1 percent.

— mará rose williams, kansascity, "The best school district in Kansas? Oops, list names a district from the wrong state | The Kansas City Star," 2 Apr. 2018
According to the College Scorecard, ANU Lexington enrolls 777 students and has a 28 percent graduation rate; 83 percent of those grads receive federal loans, but only 14 percent are paying down that debt, an average $29,000.

— sam rosenstiel, Cincinnati.com, "American National University ordered to pay $23,000 for posting ‘misleading’ grad employment numbers," 2 Apr. 2018
Whittaker will be paid a salary of $506,000 with the opportunity for additional pay based on factors like graduation rates, retention rates and donations.

— annie martin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "UCF's Dale Whittaker says he will rise to challenge of presidency," 31 Mar. 2018
Credit recovery has contributed to record graduation rates, but some question whether passing grades are being handed out too easily.

— howard blume, latimes.com, "An L.A. school task force calls for more accountability — starting with school report cards," 29 Mar. 2018
But what damaged Huggins’s reputation and legacy the most was a report in 1999 that his Cincinnati team had a zero percent graduation rate for three seasons.

— christopher l. gasper, BostonGlobe.com, "A mellower Bob Huggins still winning big at West Virginia," 22 Mar. 2018

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

First Known Use of graduation

1594

graduation Synonyms

Synonyms

hierarchy, ladder, ordering, ranking, scale;

arrangement, array, disposal, disposition, distribution, sequence, series, setup;

degree, echelon, footing, level, place, position, reaches, rung, situation, spot, standing, station, status;

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

GRADUATION Defined for English Language Learners

graduation

noun

Definition of graduation for English Language Learners

: the act of receiving a diploma or degree from a school, college, or university : the act of graduating
: a ceremony at which degrees or diplomas are given out