dedication

noun

ded·​i·​ca·​tion ˌde-di-ˈkā-shən 

1

religion : an act or rite of dedicating (see dedicate entry 2 sense 1) to a divine being or to a sacred use

the dedication of the temple

2

: a devoting or setting aside for a particular purpose

the dedication of funds raised from the bake sale to the class trip

3

: a name and often a message prefixed to a literary, musical, or artistic production in tribute to a person or cause

mentioned his family in a brief dedication in his novel

4

: self-sacrificing devotion and loyalty

her dedication to the cause

required hard work and dedication

5

: a ceremony to mark the official completion or opening of something (such as a building)

attended the building's dedication nearly fifty years ago

dedicatory

ˈde-di-kə-ˌtȯr-ē 

adjective

Did you know?

Dedication goes back to the 14th century in which it referred to the solemn act of dedicating something, such as a calendar day or a church, to a deity or to a sacred use. Centuries later, it came to be used for the act of devoting time and energy to a particular purpose. Nowadays, dedication commonly indicates the quality of being loyal or devoted to a cause, ideal, or purpose.

Synonyms

• adhesion
• allegiance
• attachment
• commitment
• constancy
• devotedness
• devotion
• faith
• faithfulness
• fastness
• fealty
• fidelity
• loyalty
• piety
• steadfastness
• troth

Examples of dedication in a Sentence

It took a lot of hard work and dedication, but we managed to finish the project on time.

the dedication of the temple

They celebrated the dedication of the new building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Recent Examples on the Web

The company co-founders credit their work ethic and dedication to cultivating a following as key to their success. —Mike Dojc, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

His creepy makeup and dedication to the character earned him his highest scores yet. —Calie Schepp, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024

Cultivating his loyal fan base in Australia, his bass-heavy artistry continues to inspire global listeners with a staunch refusal to be boxed in. Demonstrating his dedication to innovation, Artifact possesses an intense desire to bring something new to the table with every release. —Spin Contributor, SPIN, 30 Oct. 2024

Their counsel, dedication, and passion have shaped our company and contributed to our success. —Caitlin Huston, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see dedicate entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

dedication

noun

ded·​i·​ca·​tion ˌded-i-ˈkā-shən 

1

a

: an act or rite of dedicating to a divine being or to a sacred use

b

: a setting aside for a particular purpose

2

: the inscription dedicating a literary, musical, or artistic work to a person or cause

3

: self-sacrificing devotion

dedicatory

ˈded-i-kə-ˌtōr-ē 

-ˌtȯr-

adjective

Legal Definition

dedication

noun

ded·​i·​ca·​tion ˌde-di-ˈkā-shən 

: a giving up of property to public use that precludes the owner from asserting any further interest in it: as

a

: an intentional donation of land for public use that is accepted by the proper public authorities

b

: intentional or negligent surrender to the public of intellectual property that could have been protected by copyright or patent