ornamental
Americanadjective
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used or grown for ornament.
ornamental plants.
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providing ornament, decorative.
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of or relating to ornament.
noun
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something ornamental; decoration; adornment.
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a plant cultivated for decorative purposes.
adjective
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of value as an ornament; decorative
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(of a plant) used to decorate houses, gardens, etc
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ornamental
Explanation
If something is ornamental, it's a decoration. The red feather in your cap is most definitely ornamental; it serves no purpose other than providing a splash of color. Ornamental things are, by definition, just for show — they're not actually useful. So an ornamental pond in your yard might be pretty, but you can't fish or swim in it, and an ornamental telephone booth in your friend's living room doesn't really work. Likewise, ornamental plants or gardens are full of beautiful flowers and foliage, but nothing in them is edible.
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.
It feels stark now, our choices: We picked the yard with the ornamental cherry tree over the proximity of a friend who can run over when our baby is struggling to breathe at 3 a.m.
From Slate ● Oct. 28, 2026
Many of his projects remain intact, including the ornamental lake he had dug, and a bathroom papered with a montage of original newspaper clippings chronicling major events from the early 20th century.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Goldfish are among the most widely distributed ornamental fish in the world, and the global pet trade continues to move aquatic species across continents at unprecedented levels.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 26, 2026
Rhododendron is a non-native shrub which was introduced to gardens as an ornamental plant by the Victorians.
From BBC ● May 21, 2026
Parvati scowled and removed a large ornamental butterfly from the end of her plait.
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
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