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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

recommendation

reh-kuh-mehn-DAY-shuhn

Recommendation (noun) means a suggestion that something is good, suitable, or worth trying. Example: “We booked the hotel on a friend's recommendation.”

noun
1
A suggestion that something is good, suitable, or worth trying.
"We booked the hotel on a friend's recommendation."
2
Formal advice about the best course of action.
"The panel's recommendation was to delay the launch by a month."
3
A letter or statement praising someone's abilities, usually for a job or study application.
"Her professor wrote her a glowing letter of recommendation."

How to Use Recommendation

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA suggestion, piece of advice, or supportive statement recommending someone or something.

Common pairings
letter of recommendation follow a recommendation make a recommendation

Word Forms

recommendations plural

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

We booked the hotel on a friend's _____.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman recomendacion, from Medieval Latin recommendatio, built from "recommend" plus "-ation."

Origin: Medieval Latin

Related Words

Rhymes for recommendation

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “recommendation” mean?

The word “recommendation” means a suggestion that something is good, suitable, or worth trying. In plain terms, a suggestion, piece of advice, or supportive statement recommending someone or something.

How do you pronounce “recommendation”?

“Recommendation” is pronounced reh-kuh-mehn-DAY-shuhn (/ˌɹɛkəmɛnˈdeɪʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “recommendation” in a sentence?

Here is “recommendation” used in a sentence: “We booked the hotel on a friend's recommendation.”

What part of speech is “recommendation”?

“Recommendation” is a noun.

Where does the word “recommendation” come from?

The word “recommendation” comes from Medieval Latin. From Anglo-Norman recomendacion, from Medieval Latin recommendatio, built from "recommend" plus "-ation.".

Is “recommendation” a common word?

“Recommendation” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “recommendation” have?

“Recommendation” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a suggestion that something is good, suitable, or worth trying.

What is the difference between a recommendation and a suggestion?

A suggestion is a tentative idea offered for consideration, while a recommendation carries more weight — it states that something is good, suitable, or worth trying, often based on experience or expertise. A doctor's recommendation is stronger than a friend's suggestion.

What is the difference between a letter of recommendation and a reference?

A letter of recommendation is a statement praising someone's abilities, usually written for a specific job or study application. A reference can be more neutral — often simply a person who agrees to confirm your experience and character when contacted. In practice, many employers use the two terms interchangeably.

How do you spell recommendation?

Recommendation has one c and two m's. It is formed from recommend plus the ending -ation, so common misspellings such as "reccomendation" and "recomendation" are incorrect.

Is it recommendation of or recommendation for?

Use "of" when naming who made it: "on the recommendation of my doctor." Use "for" when naming what is being proposed or who benefits: "a recommendation for promotion." Both patterns are correct in their own contexts.

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