noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ˌbɛnəˈdɪkʃən/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɪkʃən
CMU ARPABET:B EH2 N AH0 D IH1 K SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A short invocation for help, blessing and guidance from God, said on behalf of another person or persons (sometimes at the end of a church worship service).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Examples
to pronounce / give / say the benediction
the nuptial benediction
a parting benediction
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: blessing
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
In the Anglican church, the ceremony used to institute an abbot, analogous to the consecration of a bishop.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A Roman Catholic rite by which bells, banners, candles, etc., are blessed with holy water and formally dedicated to God.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Help, good fortune or reward from God or another supernatural source.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: blessing, grace
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
the act of praying for divine protection
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: blessing
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: prayer, supplication
6
noun
Meaning 6
a ceremonial prayer invoking divine protection
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: blessing
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: prayer, petition, orison
Narrower terms: benison
History
Etymology
From Middle English benediccion, from Ecclesiastical Latin benedictio, benedictionis, from benedictus (“blessed; well spoken of”). Doublet of benison.
Across languages
Translations
30 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Belarusian:
благаславе́нне
(blahaslavjénnje)
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Bulgarian:
благословия
(blagoslovija)
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Chinese Mandarin:
祝福
(zhùfú)
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Czech:
požehnání
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Finnish:
avunpyyntö
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
French:
bénédiction
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Hindi:
आशीर्वाद
(āśīrvād)
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Hindi:
आशीष
(āśīṣ)
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Ido:
benediko
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Irish:
beannacht
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Italian:
benedizione
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Lutuv:
thluechiypina
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Macedonian:
благослов
(blagoslov)
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Malay:
keberkatan
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Middle English:
benediccion
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Norwegian Bokmål:
benediksjon
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Norwegian Bokmål:
velsignelse
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Plautdietsch:
Säajen
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Polish:
benedykcja
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Polish:
błogosławieństwo
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Portuguese:
bênção
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Romanian:
binecuvântare
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Romanian:
binecuvântări
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Russian:
благослове́ние
(blagoslovénije)
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Spanish:
benedícite
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Spanish:
benedicamus
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Spanish:
benedictus
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Telugu:
మంగళాశాసనము
(maṅgaḷāśāsanamu)
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Ottoman Turkish:
دعا
(duʼâ)
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
Ukrainian:
благослове́ння
(blahoslovénnja)
— a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually after a church worship service
