Words / B2

uhb-ZURV-uh-ns/əbˈzɜːvəns/

Observance is the practice of following a law, custom, or religious rite (often uncountable): observance of the rule; religious observance. Observation is watching (already in the dictionary); observe can mean watch or follow a custom. Observance of the embargo is not optional. Mix-up: observation / observer. Do not write observance for “what you saw in the lesson”.

Meaning

The practice of following a law, custom, or religious rite (often uncountable).

Examples

• “Observance of the embargo is not optional, the board email said.”
• “Religious observance featured in the census table, which is the custom sense.”

Good to know

observance of + rule / rite; religious observance. Trap: observation (watching). Law, RS, and news. Following a custom, not looking at data.

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