engagement

/ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/
commitment or involvement

Her engagement to her partner was announced last week.

This refers to her formal commitment to marry.


formal

A formal agreement to marry

They celebrated their engagement with a small party.

This describes the period after they agreed to marry.

Often involves a ring and public announcement.

general

The act of engaging or involving someone

The company's engagement with local communities improved.

This means the company became more involved with the community.

Can refer to emotional, social, or professional involvement.

historical

A battle or conflict between military forces

The engagement at Waterloo was decisive.

This refers to a major battle in history.

Less common modern usage.

Collocations

engagement ringa ring given to someone when proposing marriageemployee engagementthe level of commitment employees feel toward their work

Related Phrases

engageverb
to become involved or occupied
disengageverb
to remove oneself from involvement

Pro Tip

Context Matters

The meaning of 'engagement' depends heavily on context—marriage, work, or military.

Gold Rule

Formal vs. General

In formal contexts, 'engagement' often refers to marriage; in general contexts, it means involvement.

Word Origin

From Middle French 'engagement', from 'engager' (to pledge), from Old French 'engagier' (to engage)

Usage Notes

Can refer to marriage, social involvement, or military conflict. Context determines meaning.

Word Breakdown

engage
to involve or occupy
root
+
-ment
the act or result of
suffix
English Dictionary