jubilation

noun

ju·​bi·​la·​tion ˌjü-bə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: an act of rejoicing : the state of being jubilant

The news was greeted with jubilation.

2

: an expression of great joy

The jubilations of the garrison were short-lived.

—C. R. Low

Examples of jubilation in a Sentence

the jubilation of the crowd

Recent Examples on the Web

Mourinho shot off down the touchline, fingers jabbing the air, hugging a ballboy in jubilation. —Nick Miller, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026

Just as those revolutionary murals have sun-bleached and blistered, so the heady jubilation of the students’ victory has become tarnished by infighting and division. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Jan. 2026

Liberals would be misguided to greet recent Republican setbacks with too much jubilation or relief. —Jamie Holmes, Twin Cities, 22 Jan. 2026

Although the numbers are still too high, the public-health community has responded to the decrease with jubilation—and confusion. —Charles Fain Lehman, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English jubilacioun, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French jubilaciun, borrowed from Latin jūbilātiōn-, jūbilātiō "wild shouting, whooping" (Late Latin, "joyous songs of praise"), from jūbilāre "to let out whoops" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at jubilant

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for jubilation

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

Kids Definition

jubilation

noun

ju·​bi·​la·​tion ˌjü-bə-ˈlā-shən 

: an act of rejoicing : the state of being jubilant