ceremonial

adjective

cer·e·mo·ni·al | \ ˌser-ə-ˈmō-nē-əl ,

ˌse-rə- \

Definition of ceremonial

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : marked by, involved in, or belonging to ceremony : stressing careful attention to form and detail ceremonial rites

2 : having no real power or influence his new position is largely ceremonial

ceremonial

noun

Definition of ceremonial (Entry 2 of 2)

: a ceremonial act, action, or system

Other Words from ceremonial Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about ceremonial

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Other words from ceremonial

Adjective

ceremonialism \-ə-ˌli-zəm

\ noun

ceremonialist \-ə-list

\ noun

ceremonially \-ə-lē

\ adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for ceremonial

Adjective

ceremonial, ceremonious, formal, conventional mean marked by attention to or adhering strictly to prescribed forms. ceremonial and ceremonious both imply strict attention to what is prescribed by custom or by ritual, but ceremonial applies to things that are associated with ceremonies a ceremonial offering , ceremonious to persons given to ceremony or to acts attended by ceremony. made his ceremonious entrance formal applies both to things prescribed by and to persons obedient to custom and may suggest stiff, restrained, or old-fashioned behavior. a formal report the headmaster's formal manner conventional implies accord with general custom and usage conventional courtesy and may suggest a stodgy lack of originality or independence. conventional fiction

Examples of ceremonial in a Sentence

Adjective

The tribe has different ceremonial masks for each ceremony. His new position is largely ceremonial because all the decisions are actually made by a committee.

Noun

a number of religious ceremonials the funeral of a pope is usually marked by rich pageantry and elaborate ceremonials

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

Finally, Scheana brought the holy sacrament of tequila for ceremonial shots. — Nicole Dellert, Allure, "Why I Held a Pre-Wedding Ceremony to Banish All My Exes' Dicks From My Life," 12 May 2018 On Thursday morning, Woolf and a few other women fired a ceremonial shot on the North Bridge at Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord to honor the role of women in the war during the park’s weeklong celebration of Patriots Day. — Laney Ruckstuhl, BostonGlobe.com, "At Patriot’s Day festivities, a group of musket-toting women make a statement," 20 Apr. 2018 In their traditional roles, Nicklaus, a six-time Masters champion, and Player, a three-time winner of the green jacket, hit the ceremonial opening tee shots under bright skies on a chilly Thursday morning. — Steve Dimeglio, USA TODAY, "Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player get Masters underway as honorary starters," 5 Apr. 2018 It was weirdly Handmaid’s Tale–esque to, like, lay out this ceremonial blanket. — Anna Silman, The Cut, "We Had Sex on Thinx’s $369 Period Blanket So You Don’t Have To," 26 June 2018 Trump’s impulsive acceptance of the first summit between a North Korean leader and an American president was always going to be largely ceremonial. — NBC News, "North Korea shatters Trump's boastful assurances of an easy path to denuclearization," 7 July 2018 Humans throughout history have celebrated the solstices with rituals such as bonfires and ceremonial dances to mark the passage of the seasons. — Author: Justin Grieser, Anchorage Daily News, "Five things to know about the longest day of the year," 21 June 2018 The Wings invited Fedorov to drop a ceremonial puck before the Nov. 10, 2015, game against Washington. — Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, "Should Detroit Red Wings retire Sergei Fedorov's No. 91? It's time.," 12 July 2018 Locomotive 901 made its ceremonial inaugural run at SEPTA’s Chestnut Hill East Station in advance of getting to work on the Paoli-Thorndale Line, Regional Rail’s busiest. — Joseph A. Gambardello, Philly.com, "SEPTA's new Regional Rail locomotive makes debut," 11 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The ceremony eclipsed in pomp and splendor any recent ceremonial of the British court. — Scott Harrison, latimes.com, "Royal Wedding: British royal weddings since 1840," 15 May 2018 The actress said this stemmed from working non-stop on back-to-back albums, her 2009 debut Lungs and 2011's Ceremonials. — Harper's Bazaar Staff, Harper's BAZAAR, "Florence + the Machine Performs on 'The Late Show'," 7 Oct. 2015

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ceremonial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.