ornamental

[ awr-nuh-men-tl ]

adjective

1. used or grown for ornament:

   ornamental plants.

2. providing ornament, decorative.
3. of or relating to ornament.

noun

1. something ornamental; decoration; adornment.
2. a plant cultivated for decorative purposes.

ornamental

/ ˌɔːnəˈmɛntəl /

adjective

1. of value as an ornament; decorative
2. (of a plant) used to decorate houses, gardens, etc

noun

1. a plant cultivated for show or decoration

Derived Forms

• ˌornaˈmentally, adverb

Other Words From

• orna·men·tali·ty noun
• orna·mental·ly adverb
• nonor·na·mental adjective
• nonor·na·mental·ly adverb
• nonor·na·men·tali·ty noun
• over·orna·mental adjective
• over·orna·mental·ly adverb
• over·orna·men·tali·ty noun
• preor·na·mental adjective
• super·orna·mental adjective
• super·orna·mental·ly adverb
• unor·na·mental adjective
• unor·na·mental·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ornamental¹

First recorded in 1640–50; ornament + -al ¹

Example Sentences

We can hypothesize that because these things would have made it more difficult to move around, then they must be an ornamental feature.

From Popular-Science

However, he notes, when grown in soil as ornamental plants, these ferns don’t need a community.

From Science News For Students

Even among the rich in places like New York City, a diamond was only one of several stones that a fiancé might choose, if he even gave anything ornamental.

From Time

He is particularly fascinated by how the plants form castes and colonies in the wild but remain as individual strap fronds when grown in soil as ornamental plants.

From Science News

The photo, altered using Photoshop, makes it appear that Gracie is standing among about a half dozen of the rioters on a marble floor in one of the ornamental rooms in the Capitol building.

From Washington Blade

Football is a world where the basic role of the female is ornamental, at best.

From The Daily Beast

He lived in a time of war, and there was no room for meaningless ornamental writing.

From The Daily Beast

Japanese knotweed, for all its invasive attributes, was an ornamental plant for the Victorians.

From The Daily Beast

It has since been enlarged, and is now much more ornamental as well as being useful.

From Project Gutenberg

To quote Mrs. Kaye, 'A Liberal peer is as useful as a fifth wheel to a coach, and as ornamental as whitewash.'

From Project Gutenberg

It is used for a variety of ornamental purposes, for which, from its extreme natural beauty, it is peculiarly adapted.

From Project Gutenberg

As it had columns for recording statistics of the fair for a period of years, it was instructive as well as ornamental.

From Project Gutenberg

The garden at the rear was bright with a profusion of spring flowers and sheltered with ornamental trees and vines.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• exquisite
• ornate
• showy