revelation

noun

rev·​e·​la·​tion ˌre-və-ˈlā-shən 

1

a

: an act of revealing or communicating divine truth

b

: something that is revealed by God to humans

2

a

: an act of revealing to view or making known

Revelations by the news outlet caused a scandal.

b

: something that is revealed

especially : an enlightening or astonishing disclosure

shocking revelations

c

: a pleasant often enlightening surprise

her talent was a revelation

3

Revelation : an apocalyptic writing addressed to early Christians of Asia Minor and included as a book in the New Testament

called also Apocalypse

see Bible Table

Synonyms of revelation

• disclosure

Examples of revelation in a Sentence

The book includes many shocking revelations about the mayor's personal life.

The revelation that she was a drug user was not a surprise to me.

Revelations by the newspaper caused a scandal.

Recent Examples on the Web

How Other Parents Reacted to Murphy’s Post The reaction to Murphy’s revelations about his parenting style were mixed, with some commenters offering sympathy, while others more or less accused him of being a terrible father. —Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 12 Jan. 2026

But Oelsen and her neighbors would soon learn that these new arrivals were clients of an unannounced and unpermitted sober living operation — a revelation that has triggered outrage among residents and once again pitted Santa Monica officials against a controversial Los Angeles developer. —Gavin J. Quinton, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026

Prior to Hill's revelations, the Hartselle Police Department did not have probable cause. —CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026

At the end of the third episode of the season, the show makes the shocking revelation that Roper is, in fact, alive and well, despite the fact that his death was all but confirmed at the beginning of the season. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English revelacioun, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin revelation-, revelatio, from Latin revelare to reveal

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing revelation

• come as a revelation
• self-revelation

Rhymes for revelation

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

Kids Definition

revelation

1 of 2 noun

rev·​e·​la·​tion ˌrev-ə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: an act of revealing or making known divine truth

2

a

: an act of revealing to view

b

: something that is revealed

especially : a surprising or astonishing disclosure

Revelation

2 of 2 noun

Rev·​e·​la·​tion

ˌrev-ə-ˈlā-shən

: a writing dealing with the end of the world addressed to early Christians of Asia Minor and included as a book in the New Testament see bible