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
Coretta Scott King, the wife of Dr. King, had a great idea in the year prior to the first observance of the federal holiday.
—
William Lambers, Hartford Courant, 19 Jan. 2025
Closings Here are a list of closings in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day: State government offices will be closed.
—John Coffren, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2025
President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law on Nov. 2, 1983, thus designating the third Monday in January a federal holiday in observance of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025
Closings for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday City of Leesburg offices and its facilities will be closed Jan. 20 in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2025
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William Lambers, Hartford Courant, 19 Jan. 2025
Closings Here are a list of closings in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day: State government offices will be closed.
—John Coffren, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2025
President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law on Nov. 2, 1983, thus designating the third Monday in January a federal holiday in observance of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025
Closings for Martin Luther King Jr. holiday City of Leesburg offices and its facilities will be closed Jan. 20 in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for observance
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Cite this Entry
“Observance.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/observance. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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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