ceremony

noun

cer·​e·​mo·​ny ˈser-ə-ˌmō-nē 

ˈse-rə-

plural ceremonies

1

: a formal act or series of acts prescribed by ritual, protocol, or convention

the marriage ceremony

2

a

: a conventional act of politeness or etiquette

the ceremony of introduction

b

: an action performed only formally with no deep significance

The custom had probably been long a mere ceremony …

—C. Thirlwall

c

: a routine action performed with elaborate pomp

… the opening bell [of the New York Stock Exchange] is still an important daily ceremony, attracting corporate chiefs and celebrities.

—John Carney

3

a

: prescribed procedures : usages

the ceremony attending an inauguration

b

: observance of an established code of civility or politeness

opened the door without ceremony and strode in

Synonyms of ceremony

• ritual
• ceremonial

Examples of ceremony in a Sentence

There will be a ceremony honoring the town's veterans next week.

With great ceremony, the children presented each of the visitors with a gift.

He told them abruptly and without ceremony that they would have to leave.

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, who got married in a big ceremony with over a thousand guests at Madison Square Garden. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Aug. 2026

The brother-sister duo made headlines at that ceremony for kissing on the lips on the red carpet. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 6 Aug. 2026

In 2025, the organization announced that the Oscars will introduce a new category at the 2028 ceremony for achievement in stunt design. — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026

Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh said in a statement Thursday that Immigration Minister Tony Burke swore them in the day before at a citizenship ceremony in their Australian home city of Brisbane. — ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ceremonie, from Middle French ceremonie, from Latin caerimonia

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ceremony

• stand on ceremony

Rhymes for ceremony

• abalone
• acrimony
• alimony
• antimony
• chalcedony
• cicerone
• cosmogony
• eurozone
• lithopone
• macaroni
• matrimony
• parsimony

Kids Definition

ceremony

noun

cer·​e·​mo·​ny ˈser-ə-ˌmō-nē 

plural ceremonies

1

: a formal act or series of acts performed in some regular way according to fixed rules

graduation ceremonies

2

: very polite behavior : formality

dined without ceremony