observance
noun
ob·ser·vance
əb-ˈzər-vən(t)s 
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
Synonyms
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
The same goes for those living in Washington, D.C., due to the district’s observance of Emancipation Day on April 16.
—
Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024
According to Britannica, Holy Saturday is a Christian religious observance that ends the Lenten season.
—USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024
That gives further urgency to redefining Purim observances, DeGroot said.
—Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024
The following year the popular cannabis publication printed that flyer and a new observance was born.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 11 Mar. 2024
The following state, federal and local government offices' schedules may be affected by holiday observances Monday.
—arkansasonline.com, 18 Feb. 2024
Other concerns about daylight saving time included disruptions to harvesting schedules for farmers, interference with religious observances based on solar and lunar time, and potential delays in reworking computer systems programmed to switch twice a year.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 9 Feb. 2024
The stock exchange was closed yesterday in observance of Good Friday.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is the lead nonprofit organization that plans, promotes and produces the annual observance each year.
—Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 1 Apr. 2024
Jeanne Sahadi, CNN, 1 Apr. 2024
According to Britannica, Holy Saturday is a Christian religious observance that ends the Lenten season.
—USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024
That gives further urgency to redefining Purim observances, DeGroot said.
—Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024
The following year the popular cannabis publication printed that flyer and a new observance was born.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 11 Mar. 2024
The following state, federal and local government offices' schedules may be affected by holiday observances Monday.
—arkansasonline.com, 18 Feb. 2024
Other concerns about daylight saving time included disruptions to harvesting schedules for farmers, interference with religious observances based on solar and lunar time, and potential delays in reworking computer systems programmed to switch twice a year.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 9 Feb. 2024
The stock exchange was closed yesterday in observance of Good Friday.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is the lead nonprofit organization that plans, promotes and produces the annual observance each year.
—Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 1 Apr. 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.
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Cite this Entry
“Observance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/observance. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
observance
noun
ob·ser·vance
əb-ˈzər-vən(t)s
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
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