ceremonial

[ ser-uh-moh-nee-uhl ]
See synonyms for ceremonial on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. of, relating to, or characterized by ceremony; formal; ritual: a ceremonial occasion.

  2. used in or in connection with ceremonies: ceremonial robes.

noun
  1. a system of ceremonies, rites, or formalities prescribed for or observed on any particular occasion; a rite.

  2. Roman Catholic Church.

    • the order for rites and ceremonies.

    • a book containing it.

  1. formal behavior found at, or appropriate to, a certain occasion: the ceremonial of a state banquet.

Origin of ceremonial

1
1350–1400; Middle English <Medieval Latin cēremōniālis,Late Latin caerimōniālis.See ceremony, -al1

Other words for ceremonial

Opposites for ceremonial

Other words from ceremonial

  • cer·e·mo·ni·al·ism, noun
  • cer·e·mo·ni·al·ist, noun
  • cer·e·mo·ni·al·ly, adverb
  • an·ti·cer·e·mo·ni·al, adjective
  • an·ti·cer·e·mo·ni·al·ly, adverb
  • an·ti·cer·e·mo·ni·al·ism, noun
  • an·ti·cer·e·mo·ni·al·ist, noun, adjective
  • non·cer·e·mo·ni·al, adjective
  • non·cer·e·mo·ni·al·ly, adverb
  • pre·cer·e·mo·ni·al, adjective
  • un·cer·e·mo·ni·al, adjective
  • un·cer·e·mo·ni·al·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with ceremonial

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use ceremonial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ceremonial

ceremonial

/ (ˌsɛrɪˈməʊnɪəl) /


adjective
  1. involving or relating to ceremony or ritual

noun
  1. the observance of formality, esp in etiquette

  2. a plan for formal observances on a particular occasion; ritual

  1. Christianity

    • the prescribed order of rites and ceremonies

    • a book containing this

Derived forms of ceremonial

  • ceremonialism, noun
  • ceremonialist, noun
  • ceremonially, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012