Benediction — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌbe-nə-ˈdik-shən/ bene·dic·tion

Meaning & Definition of Benediction

Benediction (noun)

  1. the invocation of a blessing; especially, the short blessing with which public worship is concluded
  2. something that promotes goodness or well-being
  3. a Roman Catholic or Anglo-Catholic devotion including the exposition of the eucharistic Host in the monstrance and the blessing of the people with it

Benediction (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a prayer calling for divine care, protection, or favor

    "the priest offered a benediction for the missing children"

    similar: benison, blessing, laying on of hands
    related: Godspeed, appeal, entreaty, grace, intercession, invocation, orison, petition, plea, prayer, supplication, sanctification
    opposite: anathema, curse, execration, imprecation, malediction

  2. something that provides happiness or does good for a person or thing

    "the library's silence was a welcome benediction to someone, like me, who needed to concentrate"

    similar: benefit, blessing, boon, felicity, godsend, good, manna, windfall
    related: grace, mercy, favor, kindness, mitzvah, advantage, aid, assistance, gift, help, relief, support, anodyne, comfort, consolation, solace, bonus, extra, lagniappe, delight, joy, pleasure
    opposite: affliction, bane, curse, evil, plague, scourge
    near: hex, hoodoo, jinx, bother, irritant, nuisance, pest, disadvantage, cross, misery, trial, tribulation

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Benediction

The most common words with a similar meaning to Benediction:

benison, blessing, benefit, boon, felicity, godsend, good, manna, windfall, laying on of hands

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Benediction

Words with the opposite meaning of Benediction:

anathema, curse, execration, imprecation, malediction, affliction, bane, evil, plague, scourge

Related Words for Benediction

Godspeed, appeal, entreaty, grace, intercession, invocation, orison, petition, plea, prayer, supplication, sanctification, mercy, favor, kindness, mitzvah, advantage, aid, assistance, gift, help, relief, support, anodyne, comfort, consolation, solace, bonus, extra, lagniappe

Near Antonyms of Benediction

hex, hoodoo, jinx, bother, irritant, nuisance, pest, disadvantage, cross, misery, trial, tribulation

Origin & Etymology of Benediction

Middle English benediccioun, from Late Latin benediction-, benedictio, from benedicere to bless, from Latin, to speak well of, from bene well (akin to Latin bonus good) + dicere to say bounty, diction

First known use: 15th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Benediction

Frequently Asked Questions about Benediction

What does "Benediction" mean?

"Benediction" means the invocation of a blessing; especially, the short blessing with which public worship is concluded. As a noun, it is defined as: the invocation of a blessing; especially, the short blessing with which public worship is concluded. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Benediction"?

Other words for "Benediction" include benison, blessing, benefit, boon, felicity, godsend, good and manna. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Benediction" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Benediction"?

There are 43 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Benediction". Common alternatives include benison, blessing, benefit, boon, felicity, godsend, good, manna, windfall and laying on of hands.

What is the opposite of "Benediction"?

Antonyms of "Benediction" include anathema, curse, execration, imprecation, malediction, affliction, bane and evil. Near antonyms include hex, hoodoo, jinx and bother.

How do you use "Benediction" in a sentence?

Examples of "Benediction" in a sentence: "the priest offered a benediction for the missing children"; "the library's silence was a welcome benediction to someone, like me, who needed to concentrate".

Is "Benediction" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Benediction" is a noun.

Is "Benediction" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Benediction" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Benediction"?

"Benediction" is pronounced /ˌbe-nə-ˈdik-shən/ and divided into syllables as bene·dic·tion.