veneration

noun

ven·​er·​a·​tion ˌve-nə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: respect or awe inspired by the dignity, wisdom, dedication, or talent of a person

2

: the act of venerating

3

: the condition of one that is venerated

Examples of veneration in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Putin is famously obsessed with World War II and official veneration of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany is part of the ideological glue that holds together the Russian state. —Nathan Hodge, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025

The relationship between mother and daughter—depicted with layered acuity and fraught with shame, disgust, love, desire, betrayal, veneration, and rage—is the burning centre of the novel. —Hazlitt, 23 Dec. 2025

Instead, the restaurant has been forced to translate Mallmann’s veneration of fire into a more conventional appreciation of bog-standard natural gas. —Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 9 Nov. 2025

La Santa Muerte also faces significant opposition from the Catholic Church, which condemns her veneration as heretical and morally dangerous. —Myriam Lamrani, The Conversation, 31 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English veneracioun, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French veneratiun, borrowed from Latin venerātiōn-, venerātiō "act of soliciting the good will (of a deity), demonstration of respect or awe," from venerārī "to solicit the good will of (a deity), hold in awe, venerate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for veneration

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

Kids Definition

veneration

noun

ven·​er·​a·​tion ˌven-ə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the act of venerating : the state of being venerated

2

: a feeling of deep respect