ceremony

American  

[ser-uh-moh-nee] / ˈsɛr əˌmoʊ ni /

noun

plural

ceremonies

1. the formal activities conducted on some solemn or important public or state occasion.

   the coronation ceremony.

2. a formal religious or sacred observance; a solemn rite.

   a marriage ceremony.

3. formal observances or gestures collectively; ceremonial observances.

   The breathless messenger had no time for ceremony.

4. any formal act or observance, especially a meaningless one.

   His low bow was mere ceremony.

5. a gesture or act of politeness or civility.

   the ceremony of a handshake.

6. strict adherence to conventional forms; formality.

   to leave a room without ceremony.

---

idioms

1. stand on ceremony, to behave in a formal or ceremonious manner.

ceremony British  

/ ˈsɛrɪmənɪ /

noun

1. a formal act or ritual, often set by custom or tradition, performed in observation of an event or anniversary

   a ceremony commemorating Shakespeare's birth

2. a religious rite or series of rites

3. a courteous gesture or act

   the ceremony of toasting the Queen

4. ceremonial observances or gestures collectively

   the ceremony of a monarchy

5. to insist on or act with excessive formality

6. in a casual or informal manner

---

ceremony More Idioms  

1. see stand on (ceremony).

---

Related Words

Ceremony, rite, ritual refer to set observances and acts traditional in religious services or on public occasions. Ceremony applies to more or less formal dignified acts on religious or public occasions: a marriage ceremony; an inaugural ceremony. A rite is an established, prescribed, or customary form of religious or other solemn practice: the rite of baptism. Ritual refers to the form of conducting worship or to a code of ceremonies in general: Masonic rituals.

Other Word Forms

• preceremony noun

Etymology

Origin of ceremony

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ceremonie, from Medieval Latin cēremōnia, from Latin caerimōnia “sacred rite”; replacing Middle English cerymonye, from Middle French cerimonie, from Latin, as above

Explanation

A ceremony is a formal event held on special occasions such as weddings and graduations. Even if an occasion isn’t traditionally honored with a ceremony, you can hold one anyway; we know your cat’s third birthday is important. Ceremony can also refer to proper, formal behavior; someone who insists on behaving properly can be said to “stand on ceremony.” If you insist on standing up and shaking hands every time you’re introduced to someone, you're a person who stands on ceremony. If you prefer to sit back and offer a casual “Hey,” you're a person who acts “without ceremony.”

Example Sentences

Five of them, including Ghanbari, later changed their minds and returned home along with the rest of the team and were given a hero's welcome at a special ceremony in central Tehran on March 19.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

“I can’t believe I waited 17 years to get one green jacket, and now I get two in a row,” McIlroy said during the green jacket ceremony.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

"As a result, our duty of care to everyone at the ceremony and watching at home fell short," Bafta said, adding the organisation has written to those who were affected to apologise directly.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

The pork chops of my childhood were thin, boneless, and oven-bound — salted and peppered just before they went in, cooked through without much ceremony.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026

“I believe so, shinálí. We have to get him through the ceremony, and then he will be healed. Everything will be better after the N’daa. We can do it.”

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Related Words

• commemoration
• function
• observance
• parade
• rite
• service
• show