visitation

/ˌvɪzɪˈteɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · [vˌɪzɪtˈeʃən] /ˌvɪzɪˈteɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · [vˌɪzɪtˈeʃən] /ˌvi-zə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce visitation (audio)/ (ame, mw)

visitation — noun

  • visitationsingular
  • visitationsplural

1. a formal visit by someone in authority, usually to make sure that rules are foll

1.名詞C1
釋義

a formal visit by someone in authority, usually to make sure that rules are followed or that things are in order

例句

The health inspector's visitation to Mr. Kamau's restaurant lasted nearly three hours.

visitation + to + place

Reuben prepared carefully for the bishop's visitation to the parish school.

同義詞
  • inspection

    focuses more on the checking aspect rather than the visit itself

  • audit

    usually refers to financial or procedural checks

  • review

    a broader term that can be less formal

文法句型

visitation + from + person

visitation + by + person/organisation

visitation + to + place

用法筆記

Distinguish from a simple 'visit': a visitation carries a sense of formality and authority. The visitor typically has the power to evaluate, inspect, or enforce rules.

常見錯誤

❌I paid my grandmother a visitation.
✅I paid my grandmother a visit.
💡'visitation' is formal and official; a personal social call is simply a 'visit'.

2. the legal right of a separated or divorced parent to see their child regularly u

2.名詞C1
釋義

the legal right of a separated or divorced parent to see their child regularly under a court-approved schedule

例句

After the divorce, Layla was granted visitation with her daughter every other weekend.

visitation + with + person

The judge ordered supervised visitation until both parents completed the counselling programme.

同義詞
  • access

    a broader legal term that includes contact by phone or letter as well as in person

  • contact

    less formal, used more in British English for parent–child arrangements

文法句型

visitation + rights

visitation + arrangement

supervised + visitation

用法筆記

Always used in legal or formal contexts about family arrangements after separation or divorce. Commonly appears in the phrase 'visitation rights'.

常見錯誤

❌He has visitation of his children.
✅He has visitation rights with his children.
💡use 'visitation rights' or 'visitation arrangement', not 'visitation of'.

3. a terrible event such as a plague, famine, or natural disaster that people once

3.名詞C2
釋義

a terrible event such as a plague, famine, or natural disaster that people once believed was sent by God as a warning or to punish people for their sins

例句

The villagers saw the flood as a visitation from God for their wrongdoing.

a visitation + from + God

In medieval times, a plague was often called a visitation from heaven.

同義詞
  • affliction

    a more general term for suffering that does not carry religious meaning

  • scourge

    a cause of widespread suffering, often used for diseases or social problems

  • plague

    refers specifically to an epidemic disease, but can be used metaphorically

文法句型

a visitation + of + disaster

a visitation + upon + people

用法筆記

Now largely archaic or literary. The subject is typically a natural disaster, plague, or widespread suffering viewed through a religious framework.

4. an event in which a ghost, spirit, or supernatural being makes itself seen, ofte

4.名詞C2
釋義

an event in which a ghost, spirit, or supernatural being makes itself seen, often without warning

例句

Tamar woke up screaming after a visitation from a shadowy figure in her dream.

a visitation + from + supernatural being

Guests at the old hotel often report visitations from a woman dressed in white.

同義詞
  • apparition

    a more common word for a ghostly figure that appears suddenly

  • manifestation

    a broader term for any supernatural presence becoming visible

  • haunting

    implies repeated supernatural events tied to a specific place

文法句型

a visitation + from + ghost/spirit/entity

用法筆記

Used mainly in supernatural, horror, or folkloric contexts. The appearing entity is always a ghost, spirit, or other non-physical being.