rendition
Americannoun
-
the act of rendering.
- Synonyms:
- version, interpretation
-
a translation.
-
an interpretation, as of a role or a piece of music.
-
the legal procedure or process of sending a suspected criminal to another country to be interrogated or detained, usually for law-enforcement purposes.
-
Archaic. surrender.
noun
-
a performance of a musical composition, dramatic role, etc
-
a translation of a text
-
the act of rendering
-
archaic surrender
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of rendition
1595–1605; < Middle French, alteration of reddition (< Middle English reddicion ) < Late Latin redditiōn- (stem of redditiō ), equivalent to Latin reddit ( us ) (past participle of reddere; see render 1) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
A rendition is an interpretation, performance, or translation. Whitney Houston's rendition of the Star Spangled Banner is still used at games today; Roseanne Barr's is not. This word comes from the Old French rendre, which means “to deliver, yield.” So if you want to put your spin on a song or poem or your favorite movie monologue, go ahead and deliver your rendition of it. But know that in modern times this word has also been used as a noun, describing the secret capture and interrogation of a terror suspect in a foreign country that has less strict human rights laws.
Vocabulary lists containing rendition
"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak, Part Four
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The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street
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Academy Awards, List 4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The ceremony was hosted by singer Pink, who kicked off the night with a rendition of Lady Marmalade that saw her adapt the lyrics to namecheck several of the nominees.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
At an evening reception, Macron took to the microphone and Pashinyan to the drums for a rendition of "La Boheme", the 1965 classic by the late Charles Aznavour, a singer beloved in both countries.
From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026
The very last episode of “The Colbert Report,” which aired in December 2014, closed with the host launching into a rendition of “We’ll Meet Again,” accompanied by Randy Newman playing a grand piano.
From Salon • May 21, 2026
While stumbling over the lyrics to “Matchmaker,” “Fiddler” cast members suddenly appeared on stage, performing the song with him; they closed down the number with a rousing rendition of the show stopper “Tradition.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
This rendition of the story was also compatible with Hamilton’s remark in the boat afterward, when he seemed to think his pistol was still loaded.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
