ceremony

[ser-uh-moh-nee]

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.

ceremony

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• preceremony noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ceremony¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ceremony¹

C14: from Medieval Latin cēremōnia, from Latin caerimōnia what is sacred, a religious rite

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

see stand on (ceremony).

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Cardinal Baltazar Porras of Venezuela, who was at the ceremony, said his country is facing "a morally unacceptable situation" and also called for the release of political prisoners.

Read more on Barron's

For a man who always liked the trappings of royalty, the pomp and the ceremony, the loss of his titles is deeply humiliating.

Read more on BBC

Other winners at Friday's ceremony included long-running daytime soap General Hospital for outstanding daytime drama series and actress and presenter Drew Barrymore for outstanding daytime talk series host.

Read more on BBC

The group organised a farewell ceremony with bagpipers on Tuesday after learning that the ship was to be sunk the following morning.

Read more on BBC

The 90 year old was the oldest of more than 300 graduates at the Open University's ceremony in Belfast on Tuesday.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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