Origin: Latin suffix -ment
Engagement has 8 different meanings across 1 category:
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
"Grant won a decisive victory in the battle of Chickamauga"
"he lost his romantic ideas about war when he got into a real engagement"
a meeting arranged in advance
"she asked how to avoid kissing at the end of a date"
a mutual promise to marry
"After six months of dating, Sarah and Mike finally decided to announce their engagement to family and friends."
the act of giving someone a job
"After months of interviewing candidates, the hiring manager finally announced her engagement to lead the new marketing division."
employment for performers or performing groups that lasts for a limited period of time
"the play had bookings throughout the summer"
contact by fitting together
"the engagement of the clutch"
"the meshing of gears"
the act of sharing in the activities of a group
"the teacher tried to increase his students' engagement in class activities"
An appointment, especially to speak or perform.
"The band confirmed their engagement for the wedding ceremony last night."
In plain English: Engagement is when you are actively involved and interested in something.
"They decided to plan their wedding after accepting his marriage proposal."
Usage: Use engagement to describe a formal booking where someone has reserved time with another person, such as an appointment with a doctor or a musician's scheduled performance. Do not confuse this with the term for a romantic commitment or a military conflict unless that specific context is intended.
The word comes from the Old French engagement, which was formed by adding a suffix meaning "action or result" to the verb engager. It entered English with the sense of being bound or committed, reflecting its original root meaning of binding oneself through an agreement.