presentation

noun

pre·​sen·​ta·​tion ˌprē-ˌzen-ˈtā-shən 

ˌpre-zᵊn-,

ˌprē-zᵊn- 

1

a

: the act of presenting

b

: the act, power, or privilege especially of a patron of applying to the bishop or ordinary for instituting someone into a benefice

2

: something presented: such as

a

: a symbol or image that represents something

b

: something offered or given : gift

c

: something set forth for the attention of the mind

d

: a descriptive or persuasive account (as by a salesman of a product)

e

: a symptom or group of symptoms observed or detected upon initial examination or disclosed by a patient to the physician

clinical presentation of appendicitis

3

: the position in which the fetus lies in the uterus in labor with respect to the opening of the uterus

4

: an immediate object of perception, cognition, or memory

5

often capitalized : a church feast on November 21 celebrating the presentation of the Virgin Mary in the temple

6

: the method by which radio, navigation, or radar information is given to the operator (such as the pilot of an airplane)

presentational

ˌprē-ˌzen-ˈtā-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

ˌpre-zᵊn-

ˌprē-zᵊn-

adjective

Synonyms

• present
• gift
• donation

Examples of presentation in a Sentence

The charts and graphs helped me understand the presentation.

She will take your questions after she has made her presentation.

The senior accountant gave a presentation at the meeting.

The presentation of the food made it look very appetizing.

The choir sang during the presentation of the gifts.

Recent Examples on the Web

The John Varvatos brand, now being designed by Karl Aberg, also returned to New York Fashion Week in September 2024 with an elaborate presentation at an Upper East Side townhouse. —Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025

Balance your board while incorporating an assortment of textures, flavors, shapes, and colors for a pleasing presentation and memorable taste experience. —Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025

There will be a public meeting and mini tour of the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant and a presentation about its phase four progress. —Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025

Earlier today, Mediawan Rights announced a slate of new acquisitions at a Mipcom presentation. —Ben Croll, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing presentation

• breech presentation

Rhymes for presentation

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

Kids Definition

presentation

noun

pre·​sen·​ta·​tion ˌprē-ˌzen-ˈtā-shən  ˌprez-ᵊn- 

ˌprēz-ᵊn-

1

: the act of presenting

2

a

: something (as a gift or an award) presented

b

: something set forth for attention (as a play or a sales demonstration)

3

: the position in which the fetus lies in the uterus in labor with respect to the opening through which it passes in birth

presentational

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

presentation

noun

pre·​sen·​ta·​tion ˌprē-ˌzen-ˈtā-shən  ˌprez-ᵊn- 

1

: the position in which the fetus lies in the uterus in labor with respect to the opening of the uterus

face presentation

a breech presentation

2

: appearance in conscious experience either as a sensory product or as a memory image

3

: a symptom or group of symptoms evident or disclosed by a patient upon physical examination

But the most common clinical presentation is unexplained febrile illness, sometimes with pneumonia and/or hepatitis.

—Rebecca Voelker

4

: a formal oral report of a patient's medical history