Lamentation is deep, sorrowful crying or the expression of intense grief. When someone laments, they're expressing profound sorrow, often out loud, through weeping, crying, or vocal mourning. You might hear lamentation at a funeral, where people weep and mourn the loss of someone they loved.

The word comes from ancient traditions of grieving. In many cultures throughout history, people had specific ways of lamenting: special songs, movements, or clothing worn during periods of mourning. The biblical Book of Lamentations consists of sorrowful poems mourning the destruction of Jerusalem. Even today, certain types of mournful music are called laments.

You can also lament something that isn't a death. A farmer might lament a ruined harvest after a terrible storm. A student might lament a missed opportunity to join the robotics team. When used this way, it means to express deep regret or disappointment about something lost or that went wrong.

The word carries a sense of public or vocal expression: lamentation involves grief that needs to be spoken or shown. It's the difference between feeling disappointed privately and saying out loud, “This is terrible, and here's why it matters so much.”