notification

notification — noun

1. the process of officially telling someone about something that affects them, or

1.nounB2
Definition

the process of officially telling someone about something that affects them, or a written document that records this information.

Example

Reuben received written notification that his application for a work visa had been approved.

notification + that-clause for official information

The city health department sent every restaurant a notification about the new food safety rules.

notification + about + [topic]

Common collocations
  • written notification
  • formal notification
  • prior notification
  • advance notification
  • give notification
  • receive notification
  • notification of cancellation
  • notification of acceptance
  • notification letter
Synonyms
  • notice

    less formal and more general; a notice can be a public sign or a short written announcement, while notification suggests direct communication to a specific person

  • announcement

    wider in scope — can be public or private; an announcement may be addressed to a general audience rather than a named individual

  • advice

    chiefly British English in formal/legal contexts; advice of dispatch means the same as notification of shipment

Grammar Patterns

notification + of + [something]

notification + that + [clause]

give/receive + notification

Usage Note

Countable when referring to a specific document or message (a notification); uncountable when referring to the general act (prior notification is needed). Common in legal, administrative, and workplace contexts.

Common Mistakes

I got a notification that my flight was cancelled' (for a personal message).
I received a text message that my flight was cancelled.
The formal 'notification' sense is used for official/professional communication, not casual personal messages.

2. a brief automated message that appears on a phone or computer display, usually f

2.nounB1
Definition

a brief automated message that appears on a phone or computer display, usually from an application, to tell you about something new or remind you of a task.

Example

Alessia's phone showed a notification from the delivery app that her package had arrived.

notification + from [app] about [event]

Ilan turned off all notifications during the exam so his watch would not buzz.

collocation: turn off notifications

Common collocations
  • push notification
  • app notification
  • notification bar
  • notification sound
  • notification settings
  • turn on notifications
  • turn off notifications
  • silence notifications
  • notification centre
  • notification badge
Synonyms
  • alert

    more urgent in tone; an alert often warns about something important or time-sensitive, whereas a notification can be routine

  • push message

    more technical term for server-initiated notifications; less common in everyday speech

  • reminder

    narrower meaning — a reminder is specifically about something you need to do, whereas a notification can share any kind of information

Grammar Patterns

push + notification

notification + about/from + [app or source]

turn on/off + notifications

Usage Note

Almost always countable. The plural form (notifications) is very common when referring to the collection of messages on a device. 'Push notification' is a specific technical term for a message sent from a server to a device without the user requesting it.

Common Mistakes

I have a notification of my friend's birthday.
I got a notification about my friend's birthday.
Use 'about' (not 'of') for the topic of a digital notification.

Word family

  • notify
    verbB2
  • notifiable
    adjectiveC1
  • notifier
    nounC1
  • notice
    nounB1
  • noticing
    verbB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words involve sharing information, but they differ in formality, audience, and medium. 'Notification' is the most formal and implies direct communication to a specific person or organisation — a landlord sends a notification of rent increase to a named tenant. 'Notice' is broader: it can be a formal written warning (notice to vacate) or a public sign (a notice on a bulletin board). 'Announcement' is usually public or to a group, often about an event or decision — a school makes an announcement about holiday dates. 'Declaration' is the most authoritative, used for official statements of intent or policy — a declaration of war or a customs declaration. In everyday use: 'I gave my employer two weeks' notice' (not notification); 'the company made an announcement about the merger' (not a notification).

notification ↗notice ↗announcement ↗declaration ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • upon notification
  • without prior notification
  • notification in writing

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'notificare', meaning 'to make known', which combines 'notus' ('known', the past participle of 'noscere' — 'to get to know') and 'facere' ('to make'). The word entered English through Old French 'notificacion' in the 15th century. The modern digital sense emerged in the late 20th century with the rise of computer and smartphone operating systems that send automated user alerts.