invitation

noun

in·​vi·​ta·​tion ˌin-və-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce invitation (audio)
1
a
: the act of inviting
b
: an often formal request to be present or participate
2

Example Sentences

We sent out more than 100 invitations for the party.
Recent Examples on the Web But stick to one, obviously, and incorporate from start to finish—on the bands of invitation suites, on dance floors—for a cohesive theme. Lauren Tappan, Town & Country, 21 Mar. 2023 After that invitation came to light, Trump's own lawyer in the case, Joe Tacopina, acknowledged the possibility of a looming indictment. Josh Meyer, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2023 Xi will pay a state visit to Moscow from Monday to Wednesday at Putin’s invitation, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Friday. Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 17 Mar. 2023 From today, invitation codes will be sent out to some Chinese companies who can start embedding the chatbot into their products. Matthew Humphries, PCMAG, 16 Mar. 2023 Based in South Florida, the AFWC is a by-invitation-only competition featuring premier wines from throughout the United States. Peg San Felippo, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2023 The invitation and its terms and conditions are explained by Andy Samberg (playing himself). Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Mar. 2023 His public invitation comes as the school system’s two largest employee unions prepare for a joint rally Wednesday afternoon at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2023 Russia’s invitation comes after its team was banned from playing in the European league by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and in the World Cup by FIFA, soccer’s global governing body, in February 2022 after the invasion. Leo Sands, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2023 See More

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

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of invitation was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near invitation

Cite this Entry

“Invitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/invitation. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

invitation

noun
in·​vi·​ta·​tion ˌin-və-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce invitation (audio)
1
: the act of inviting
2
: the written, printed, or spoken expression by which a person is invited
invitational
-shnəl
-shən-ᵊl
adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


Love It or Hate It

  • heart-fire
  • When asked about her blind date, Carol spoke for hours with vitriol.
How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY