congratulations
UK: kənˌɡrætʃuˈleɪʃənz | US: kənˌɡrætʃuˈleɪʃənz
n. an expression of joy or praise for someone’s achievement or good fortune
n. (formal) a polite acknowledgment of a milestone or happy event
Derived from Latin congratulatio, combining con- (together) and gratulari (to express joy, from gratus meaning "pleasing"). The morpheme grat appears in related words like "gratitude" and "grace," reflecting shared roots in positive sentiment. The suffix -ulations evolved as a nominalizing ending, turning the verb congratulate into a noun. The word originally implied communal celebration, a nuance still present in modern usage.
She received congratulations from her colleagues after the promotion.
Congratulations on your wedding!
The team exchanged congratulations after winning the championship.
He smiled and offered his congratulations.
A flood of congratulations messages appeared on her social media.