observance

noun

ob·​ser·​vance əb-ˈzər-vən(t)s How to pronounce observance (audio)
1
a
: a customary practice, rite, or ceremony
Sabbath observances
b
: a rule governing members of a religious order
2
: an act or instance of following a custom, rule, or law
observance of the speed limits
3
: an act or instance of watching

Examples of observance in a Sentence

the observance of this family tradition would make your grandmother very happy observance of the smoking ban in public buildings
Recent Examples on the Web All Hamilton County school districts, including Cincinnati Public Schools, will be closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 That's because lottery offices will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024 Up Next Monday: US markets are closed in observance of Presidents’ Day. Tuesday: Earnings from HSBC, Walmart, Home Depot, Barclays, Caesars Entertainment and Dillard’s. Bryan Mena, CNN, 18 Feb. 2024 Government offices Most local, state and federal government offices will be closed on Monday in observance of the holiday, including the Department of Motor Vehicles, the County Clerk's office and courts. Detroit Free Press, 16 Feb. 2024 This was true at virtually every point along the spectrum of Jewish observance. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024 Oh, and a programming note: The newsletter is taking a break on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Meghana Keshavan, STAT, 12 Jan. 2024 In other words, the creation of a Jewish state would necessarily debilitate and collapse all other forms of Jewish identity and Jewish observance in the gravitational vortex of nationhood. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024 How are you supposed to reconcile those two observances? Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'observance.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of observance was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near observance

Cite this Entry

“Observance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/observance. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

observance

noun
ob·​ser·​vance əb-ˈzər-vən(t)s How to pronounce observance (audio)
1
: an established practice or ceremony
religious observances
2
: an act of following a custom, rule, or law
3
: an act or instance of watching

More from Merriam-Webster on observance

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