/ ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃn; NAmE / noun
1.
[ C ] invitation (to sth / to do sth) a spoken or written request to sb to do sth or to go somewhere :
to issue / extend an invitation
to accept / turn down / decline an invitation
an invitation to the party
I have an open invitation (= not restricted to a particular date) to visit my friend in Japan.
2.
[ U ] the act of inviting sb or of being invited :
A concert was held at the invitation of the mayor.
Admission is by invitation only .
3.
[ C ] a card or piece of paper that you use to invite sb to sth :
Have you ordered the wedding invitations yet?
4.
[ sing. ] invitation to sb (to do sth) | invitation to sth something that encourages sb to do sth, usually sth bad :
Leaving the doors unlocked is an open invitation to burglars.
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from French , or from Latin invitatio(n-) , from invitare .