What does applause mean?
Applause is the act of clapping the hands together to express approval, admiration, or enjoyment, most commonly performed by an audience at the end of a performance, speech, or ceremony. It can also refer more broadly to enthusiastic public praise, as when a policy wins 'widespread applause' from commentators. The word functions as an uncountable noun: we speak of 'thunderous applause', 'a round of applause', or 'polite applause' rather than counting individual instances. Its connotations are almost entirely positive, signalling shared appreciation and collective enthusiasm, though phrases like 'scattered applause' or 'half-hearted applause' can convey a lukewarm reception. Derived from the Latin verb applaudere, meaning to strike together in approval, it has been part of English since the early seventeenth century and remains the standard term across British and American usage for this universal gesture of public appreciation.
nounApproval or praise expressed by clapping the hands, especially by an audience after a performance. More broadly, any enthusiastic public demonstration of approval.
- Clapping by an audience to show approval or appreciation, especially after a performance.
- Enthusiastic public approval or acclaim more generally (e.g., 'the applause of critics').
"The orchestra bowed as thunderous applause filled the concert hall."
"She took a deep bow as applause swept through the theatre."
"His bold reforms won widespread applause from the business community."
Ancient Roman audiences didn't just clap — they snapped their fingers and even flapped their togas to show approval, and one emperor hired professional clappers to warm up crowds.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of applause
Applause derives from the Latin verb applaudere, formed from ad- ('toward') plus plaudere ('to strike, clap'), which described the striking of hands together in approval — the same root that gives us 'applaud', 'plausible' (originally 'worthy of applause'), and 'explode' (originally to drive off stage by clapping). The word entered English in the early seventeenth century, initially referring both to the act of clapping and to expressions of approval generally. It remains closely tied to its sibling verb 'applaud', which shares the identical Latin ancestry.
Related word forms
How applause is actually used
A mass noun with no plural form; intensity is expressed through modifiers such as 'thunderous', 'warm', 'polite', or 'scattered'. 'A round of applause' is a common idiomatic way of asking an audience to clap for someone.
Easily confused with applause
"Applaud" is the verb meaning to clap in approval, while "applause" is the noun referring to the clapping or approval itself.