ceremony
Americannoun
plural
ceremonies-
the formal activities conducted on some solemn or important public or state occasion.
the coronation ceremony.
-
a formal religious or sacred observance; a solemn rite.
a marriage ceremony.
-
formal observances or gestures collectively; ceremonial observances.
The breathless messenger had no time for ceremony.
-
any formal act or observance, especially a meaningless one.
His low bow was mere ceremony.
-
a gesture or act of politeness or civility.
the ceremony of a handshake.
-
strict adherence to conventional forms; formality.
to leave a room without ceremony.
idioms
noun
-
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
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a religious rite or series of rites
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a courteous gesture or act
the ceremony of toasting the Queen
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ceremonial observances or gestures collectively
the ceremony of a monarchy
-
to insist on or act with excessive formality
-
in a casual or informal manner
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
By the 1970s, elevator operators had largely vanished, lingering mostly in luxury hotels where their old-world charm and sense of ceremony still held appeal.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
He had attended the investiture ceremony of his first Supreme Court justice nominee, Neil Gorsuch, in 2017, months into Trump's first term.
From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026
The Westlake High students who created the ceremony were equally thrilled.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
The Dodgers received the rings commemorating their 2025 World Series title in a ceremony before Friday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
Even though the science fair was over six months away, my declaration “I’ll be number one next year!” at the last awards ceremony must have really gotten to her.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
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.
