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
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.
Mayor Muriel Bowser faced visible student pushback during her remarks, underscoring how even ceremonial addresses can become sites of political expression and disagreement.
From Salon • May 16, 2026
Trump applauded the boys and girls who jumped while chanting “welcome” to the American president, as well as a short ceremonial procession by the People’s Liberation Army, before the two men proceeded into the hall.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
The statue, to be sculpted by Martin Jennings, shows the late Queen in her younger years, in the ceremonial robes of the Order of Garter.
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026
That mixture—curiosity, comfort, fun—was evident from Hagen’s seat in the ship’s auditorium, Aula, inspired by the ceremonial hall External link of the same name at the University of Oslo.
From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026
Philomena Guinea’s black Cadillac eased through the tight, five o'clock traffic like a ceremonial car.
From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
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.
