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

Athena Bitzis, now 54, of Stone Mountain, performed in the opening ceremony, portraying one of the muses in a segment honoring the ancient origins of the Olympic movement. — Andrea Clement, AJC.com, 17 July 2026

The ceremony begins with intention setting that provides a context for the physical treatment that will follow. — Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 16 July 2026

Together since 2021, Brown and Bongiovi were married in 2024 via secret ceremony at Villa Cetinale in Tuscany. — Anna Zucca, Vanity Fair, 16 July 2026

Years later, at a ceremony for a scholarship award Alvarado won as a college student, Valdez served as keynote speaker. — Carlos Aguilar, IndieWire, 16 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