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.

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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

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ceremony More Idioms  

1. see stand on (ceremony).

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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

Example Sentences

A book of condolence, which has been signed by fans from across the globe, will also be given to his family at the private ceremony.

From BBC

Whether it is simply fewer courtiers, a bit less ceremony, no more people calling him sir, or bowing.

From BBC

Both ceremonies blended Booker’s Christian faith and Lewis’s Jewish heritage.

From Salon

The Saturday morning ceremony was held outside government headquarters, and saw city leader John Lee joined by other Hong Kong officials to observe three minutes of silence.

From BBC

Markle said an annual Veterans Day ceremony held in the high-school gym to honor local veterans is so moving it “makes the hair stand up on my neck.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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