ceremonial
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or characterized by ceremony; formal; ritual.
a ceremonial occasion.
- Synonyms:
- ceremonious, conventional, solemn
- Antonyms:
- informal
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used in or in connection with ceremonies.
ceremonial robes.
noun
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a system of ceremonies, rites, or formalities prescribed for or observed on any particular occasion; a rite.
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Roman Catholic Church.
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the order for rites and ceremonies.
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a book containing it.
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formal behavior found at, or appropriate to, a certain occasion.
the ceremonial of a state banquet.
adjective
noun
-
the observance of formality, esp in etiquette
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a plan for formal observances on a particular occasion; ritual
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Christianity
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the prescribed order of rites and ceremonies
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a book containing this
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of ceremonial
1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin cēremōniālis, Late Latin caerimōniālis. See ceremony, -al 1
Explanation
When an occasion is extremely formal and full of rituals, you can call it ceremonial. Your cousin's fancy wedding and your friend's bar mitzvah are both ceremonial events. The ritual of a new queen being crowned is ceremonial, with its pomp and formality. The way your family celebrates Thanksgiving might feel ceremonial to you as well, if everyone takes it very seriously and sticks to firm rules about what food to eat and who carves the turkey. Ceremonial originally described a purely religious ritual, from the Latin caerimonia, "holiness or sacredness."
Vocabulary lists containing ceremonial
"When Cultures Meet"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Lord Mandelson was beaten to the largely ceremonial role by William Hague, the former leader of the Conservative Party.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
League commissioner Adam Silver doesn’t sleep in a van outside your house and ring the doorbell at 5 a.m. with an oversized, ceremonial check.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
That’s all the context necessary to appreciate Naomi Osaka removing a ceremonial black skirt and sleeveless beaded bodice ahead of her opening match at the Roland-Garros Complex this week, revealing a sequined gold playing dress.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
His social media feeds increasingly blur the line between governance, architecture and fortress fantasy: giant protective systems, controlled ceremonial spaces, triumphant crowds and heavily curated images of power.
From Salon • May 24, 2026
Moreover, he was not cut out for all the ceremonial obligations: “I hate speeches, messages, addresses and answers, proclamations, and such affected, studied, contraband things,” he wrote sulkily to Abigail.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
