reservation

noun

res·​er·​va·​tion ˌre-zər-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce reservation (audio)
Synonyms of reservationnext
1
: an act of reserving something: such as
a(1)
: the act or fact of a grantor's reserving some newly created thing out of the thing granted
(2)
: the right or interest so reserved
b
: the setting of limiting conditions or withholding from complete exposition
answered without reservation
c
: an arrangement to have something (such as a hotel room) held for one's use
also : a promise, guarantee, or record of such engagement
2
a
: a limiting condition
agreed, but with reservations
b
: doubt, misgiving
had serious reservations about marriage
3
: something reserved: such as
a
: a tract of public land set aside (as for use by American Indians)
b
: an area in which hunting is not permitted
especially : one set aside as a secure breeding place
reservationist
ˌre-zər-ˈvā-sh(ə-)nist How to pronounce reservation (audio)
noun

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 

Examples of reservation in a Sentence

We made dinner reservations at the restaurant for 6 o'clock. I have a hotel reservation. My only reservation about buying the car was its high price.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Despite my reservations about another one-on-one hang after declaring group hangs my thing post-Timeleft, spending time with Ariana was effortless and renewed my hope for the apps. —Allie Volpe, Vox, 14 Nov. 2024 For dinner reservations, or to place an order, visit thecapitalgrille.com. —Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024 After settlers pressured the government for more riverfront lands, that reservation was dissolved by presidential order. —Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 4 Nov. 2024 The latter denial led to a court case, Harrison v. Laveen, that overturned a previous ruling that classified Native Americans living on reservations as being essentially wards of the state and ineligible for voting. —Ashawnta Jackson, JSTOR Daily, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for reservation 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reservation was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing reservation

Dictionary Entries Near reservation

reserpine

reservation

reservatory

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Reservation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reservation. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

reservation

noun
res·​er·​va·​tion ˌrez-ər-ˈvā-shən How to pronounce reservation (audio)
1
: the act of reserving
2
: an arrangement to have something (as a motel room or a seat on a plane) held for one's use
3
: something reserved for a special use
especially : an area of public lands so reserved (as for use by Indigenous people in the U.S.)
4
a
: a limiting condition : exception
agree without reservations
b
: doubt entry 2 sense 1
had reservations about joining the team

Legal Definition

reservation

noun
res·​er·​va·​tion
1
: the act or an instance of reserving
reservation of rights
2
: the creation by and for a grantor of a new right or interest (as an easement) in real property granted to another
also : the right or interest so created or the clause creating it in a deed compare exception
3
a
: public land reserved for a special purpose (as conservation)
b
: a tract of land reserved for use by an American Indian tribe see also Indian Removal Act of 1830 compare Indian title at title

Note: The federal government has jurisdiction over certain serious felonies committed on American Indian reservations, and a member of a tribe is vested with the rights of an American citizen even if in a tribal court proceeding. Prior to the Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, states could obtain civil and criminal jurisdiction over a reservation or other American Indian lands by legislative action, but that Act created the requirement that such jurisdiction be acquired with the consent of the tribe as manifest in an election among tribal adults. This requirement was not retroactive. Federal land claim settlement acts pertaining to particular states have included statutes expressly assigning civil and criminal jurisdiction to the states involved.

More from Merriam-Webster on reservation

Nglish: Translation of reservation for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of reservation for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
sweet smart pug puppy dog sitting in front of blackboard with chalk question marks
Commonly Confused Words Quiz Vol. 3 Do you have a (flare/flair) for choosing the righ...