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

For Wednesday’s bill signing, Newsom held a public ceremony alongside labor leaders and health access advocates who pushed lawmakers to consider the tax. — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026

And on July 1, two SSPX bishops consecrated the four new bishops in a highly visible ceremony in Écône, Switzerland, after being warned that doing so would result in their excommunication. — Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026

Chalamet ended up losing the Oscar both this year and in 2025 — when his girlfriend Kylie Jenner was his date to both ceremonies. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 9 July 2026

Trump passes Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during the welcome ceremony at the NATO summit. — Jamie Gray, NBC news, 9 July 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