reservation

noun

res·​er·​va·​tion ˌre-zər-ˈvā-shən 

plural reservations

1

: an act of reserving something: such as

a(1)

: the act or fact of a grantor's reserving some newly created thing out of the thing granted

(2)

: the right or interest so reserved

b

: the setting of limiting conditions or withholding from complete exposition

answered without reservation

c

: an arrangement to have something (such as a hotel room) held for one's use

also : a promise, guarantee, or record of such engagement

2

a

: a limiting condition

agreed, but with reservations

b

: doubt, misgiving

had serious reservations about marriage

3

: something reserved: such as

a

: a tract of public land set aside

especially : one designated by a government for use by Indigenous people

b

: an area in which hunting is not permitted

especially : one set aside as a secure breeding place

reservationist

ˌre-zər-ˈvā-sh(ə-)nist 

noun

Synonyms of reservation

• doubt
• skepticism
• suspicion
• uncertainty

Examples of reservation in a Sentence

We made dinner reservations at the restaurant for 6 o'clock.

I have a hotel reservation.

My only reservation about buying the car was its high price.

Recent Examples on the Web

The pool club also has several reservations-only cabanas and its own bar and poolside menu. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2026

Complete that reservation for a total price of at least $100 USD before taxes on or before July 31, 2026. —Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2026

But plan your dining wisely, and give yourself some flexibility so that your schedule isn't about racing from one dining reservation to another. —Elizabeth Heath, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026

The National Park Service announced Thursday that the park was closed and that visitors with lodging reservations could still enter the park through Highway 140 at the Arch Rock entrance. —Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reservation

• central reservation
• without reservation

Rhymes for reservation

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

Kids Definition

reservation

noun

res·​er·​va·​tion ˌrez-ər-ˈvā-shən 

1

: the act of reserving

2

: an arrangement to have something (as a motel room or a seat on a plane) held for one's use

3

: something reserved for a special use

especially : an area of public lands so reserved (as for use by Indigenous people in the U.S.)

4

a

: a limiting condition : exception

agree without reservations

b

: doubt entry 2 sense 1

had reservations about joining the team

Legal Definition

reservation

noun

res·​er·​va·​tion

1

: the act or an instance of reserving

reservation of rights

2

: the creation by and for a grantor of a new right or interest (as an easement) in real property granted to another

also : the right or interest so created or the clause creating it in a deed compare exception

3

a

: public land reserved for a special purpose (as conservation)

b

: a tract of land reserved for use by an American Indian tribe see also Indian Removal Act of 1830 compare Indian title at title

Note: The federal government has jurisdiction over certain serious felonies committed on American Indian reservations, and a member of a tribe is vested with the rights of an American citizen even if in a tribal court proceeding. Prior to the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, states could obtain civil and criminal jurisdiction over a reservation or other American Indian lands by legislative action, but that Act created the requirement that such jurisdiction be acquired with the consent of the tribe as manifest in an election among tribal adults. This requirement was not retroactive. Federal land claim settlement acts pertaining to particular states have included statutes expressly assigning civil and criminal jurisdiction to the states involved.