noun
commencement
kuh-MENS-muhnt/kəˈmensmənt/
A ceremony marking graduation.
The graduate receives a diploma during commencement.
Etymology
A commencement is literally a beginning: graduates originally ‘began to be’ bachelors, masters, or other degree holders through the ceremony. The name marks entry into a new academic standing.
In context
our graduates faculty and staff for refreshments following the end of the ceremony and a complete list of the individual school receptions is in your commencement program
More examples
- The commencement speaker addressed the graduates.
- Rain moved the commencement indoors.
- He received his diploma during commencement.
Forms
commencement · commencements
commence verb — begin
Similar words
- graduation
- Graduation names receiving a qualification or the ceremony; commencement particularly names the ceremony.
- convocation
- A convocation is a formal assembly; commencement is specifically associated with graduating students.