ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt 

1

: marked by elaborate rhetoric (see rhetoric sense 2b) or florid (see florid sense 1a) style

is clear and simple rather than ornate and pompous

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

2

: elaborately or excessively decorated

an ornate mantle

an ornate townhouse

ornate chandeliers

ornately adverb

ornateness noun

Synonyms

• bedizened
• florid
• fussy
• gingerbread
• gingerbreaded
• gingerbready
• overdecorated
• overwrought

Examples of ornate in a Sentence

She doesn't like ornate jewelry.

an ornate gambling casino that is designed to look like an Italian palace

Recent Examples on the Web

The gatehouse, known for its ornate Victorian Gothic design, includes an arched gateway at Calvary Cemetery's entrance, a bell tower, and a two-story building that served as the cemetery office as well as a residence for caretakers and their families. —Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024

Underneath the enamel lies an ornate pattern that combines the jeweler’s signature guilloché with engraved octopus tentacles. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 26 Mar. 2024

On multiple evenings during a recent sailing, guests lined up at the entrance to one of the main dining rooms on Carnival Jubilee, which gave way to a two-deck space with ornate, twinkling light fixtures and soaring white columns. —Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024

With beautifully ornate, centuries-old buildings as lovely as its serene shores and national parks, Thailand offers more Instagram-worthy photo opportunities than an old roll of film could ever handle. —Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024

Choose from smaller wreaths to larger, more ornate options that will fit every home or doorway. —Alida Nugent, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024

In addition, plenty of the home’s period elements remain intact, including ornate molding and decorative wainscoting. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024

The weeklong meetings are being held at the cavernous, ornate Great Hall of the People on the west side of Tiananmen Square. —NBC News, 5 Mar. 2024

Premier Li Qiang is expected to announce an official economic growth target when the National People’s Congress convenes Tuesday in Beijing’s ornate Great Hall of the People. —Dake Kang and Elaine Kurtenbach, Quartz, 4 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ornat, from Latin ornatus, past participle of ornare to furnish, embellish; akin to Latin ordo order — more at order

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt 

: decorated in a fancy way

ornately adverb

ornateness noun