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. Thirlwall
c
: a routine action performed with elaborate pomp
Liz Claiborne Inc. chief executive officer William McComb and Liz Claiborne New York creative director Isaac Mizrahi rang the closing bell [of the New York Stock Exchange], a daily ceremony they followed with the first-ever fashion show on the trading floor.—Marc Karimzadeh
Marc Karimzadeh3
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
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
Meanwhile, satellite imagery from late September showed Fujian docked at Hainan island in the northern part of the South China Sea, where its commissioning ceremony is expected soon.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
On November 11, the plaza celebrates Military Appreciation Day with live music, exhibits, and ceremonies.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
In August 2024, Lopez filed for divorce from Affleck on the second anniversary of their wedding ceremony.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 Oct. 2025
He is now headed to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, where there will be a peace signing ceremony ending the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia that erupted over the summer.
—Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ceremony
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Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025
On November 11, the plaza celebrates Military Appreciation Day with live music, exhibits, and ceremonies.
—Symiah Dorsey, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
In August 2024, Lopez filed for divorce from Affleck on the second anniversary of their wedding ceremony.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 Oct. 2025
He is now headed to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, where there will be a peace signing ceremony ending the conflict between Thailand and Cambodia that erupted over the summer.
—Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ceremony
Cite this Entry
“Ceremony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceremony. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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