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

The grave became a place of veneration, then a site of controversy in the early 2000s when Little Round Top’s owner began to shoo away the curious. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 28 Jan. 2025

This isn’t just reflexive age veneration, though Demi Moore’s career-toil Globes speech showed how that phenomenon works. —Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Jan. 2025

The modern picture of Baldwin is dominated by the retrospective veneration slant. —Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 28 Dec. 2024

The intergenerational perseverance and creativity centered throughout Fotos yield stronger performances; even when perusing familiar turf, the music moves in a spirit of veneration of innovators and fertile exchange of ideas among today’s luminaries. —Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 13 Jan. 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

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