ornamental
Americanadjective
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used or grown for ornament.
ornamental plants.
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providing ornament, decorative.
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of or relating to ornament.
noun
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something ornamental; decoration; adornment.
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a plant cultivated for decorative purposes.
adjective
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of value as an ornament; decorative
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(of a plant) used to decorate houses, gardens, etc
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ornamental
Explanation
If something is ornamental, it's a decoration. The red feather in your cap is most definitely ornamental; it serves no purpose other than providing a splash of color. Ornamental things are, by definition, just for show — they're not actually useful. So an ornamental pond in your yard might be pretty, but you can't fish or swim in it, and an ornamental telephone booth in your friend's living room doesn't really work. Likewise, ornamental plants or gardens are full of beautiful flowers and foliage, but nothing in them is edible.
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.
About a decade ago, with greening pushing him toward bankruptcy, Rucks began diversifying: blueberries, bamboo, ornamental plants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026
It was first introduced as an ornamental garden plant used primarily in large stately homes, but it subsequently escaped into the wider countryside.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Without natural light, he hard-wired sconces found on Facebook Marketplace that recall ornamental 18th century candlesticks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026
Goldfish are among the most widely distributed ornamental fish in the world, and the global pet trade continues to move aquatic species across continents at unprecedented levels.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 26, 2026
In practice, the engine was used to power ornamental fountains, but not to pump water out of mines, because Savery could not build boilers and cylinders which would sustain a sufficiently high pressure.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
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