felicitation

/fəˈlɪsɪˌteɪʃən/

/fəlɪsɪˈteɪʃən/

Other forms: felicitations

A felicitation is when you congratulate someone. Your best friend might express his felicitation on your birthday by giving you flowers.

You'll almost always see the noun felicitation in its plural form, felicitations. In fact, when your neighbors announce their upcoming marriage, you can say, "Felicitations!" just as you might say, "Congratulations!" Either way, you're expressing your good wishes. Felicitation comes from the verb felicitate, which means "congratulate," and has a Latin root, felicitas, "happiness," from felix, "happy or fortunate."

Definitions of felicitation

1. noun

   (usually plural) an expression of pleasure at the success or good fortune of another
   synonyms: congratulation

   type of:

   expression, verbal expression, verbalism

   the communication (in speech or writing) of your beliefs or opinions
2. noun

   the act of acknowledging that someone has an occasion for celebration
   synonyms: congratulation

   type of:

   speech act

   the use of language to perform some act