libation: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequency / C2Formal, Literary, Humorous
Quick answer
What does “libation” mean?
A drink poured out as an offering to a god or deity, especially in a religious or ceremonial context.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A drink poured out as an offering to a god or deity, especially in a religious or ceremonial context.
Humorously or euphemistically, any alcoholic drink.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition. Both use the humorous extension. Perhaps slightly more common in American English in the humorous sense.
Connotations
In both varieties, the humorous use implies a playful, slightly archaic, or mock-formal register. The ritual meaning carries connotations of antiquity, solemnity, or classical study.
Frequency
Overall low frequency in both. Slightly higher frequency in American English corpora, likely due to the humorous usage.
Grammar
How to Use “libation” in a Sentence
[Verb] + libation + [to + deity][Adjective] + libationVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “libation” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The priest will libate the wine to honour the ancestors.
American English
- They libated a fine bourbon in memory of the departed.
adjective
British English
- The libationary rites were performed at dawn.
American English
- They followed the ancient libation ceremony.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in contexts of religious studies, anthropology, classical history, and archaeology.
Everyday
Used almost exclusively in its humorous, extended sense.
Technical
Specific term in anthropology/religious studies for a type of ritual offering.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “libation”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “libation”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “libation”
- Using it in a serious, non-humorous way to mean a normal drink outside of an academic paper. Overusing the humorous sense can sound affected.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word. You will most often encounter it in academic writing about religion or history, or in humorous, informal speech referring to a drink.
In its original, ritual sense, yes—water, milk, or oil could be libations. In the modern humorous sense, it almost always implies an alcoholic beverage.
The verb is 'to libate,' but it is extremely rare and used almost exclusively in technical or very formal contexts. Most speakers would say 'pour a libation' or 'offer a libation.'
It is the 'long i' sound, as in the word 'light' or 'lie.' The stress is on the second syllable: lie-BAY-shun.
A drink poured out as an offering to a god or deity, especially in a religious or ceremonial context.
Libation is usually formal, literary, humorous in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “"to pour a libation" (literal and humorous)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of LIBation as a drink you LIBerally pour out for a higher power. Or, "I'd like a beer" becomes "I shall partake of a libation" as a joke.
Conceptual Metaphor
A DRINK IS AN OFFERING (in ritual); A DRINK IS A RITUAL (in humour).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'libation' LEAST likely to be used seriously?