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
On July 15, the group announced Asia’s 50 Best Bars at a live awards ceremony in Macau, and once again, Bar Leone in Hong Kong took the top spot.
—Kevin Gray, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Leoni, 59, and Daly, 69, were married Saturday in a small, private ceremony in New York City, Leoni's publicist confirms to Entertainment Weekly.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 15 July 2025
After over a decade together, the couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in July 2025.
—Stephanie Kaloi, People.com, 15 July 2025
The Primetime Emmy Awards will be doled out at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Sept. 14.
—Chris Foran, jsonline.com, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for ceremony
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Kevin Gray, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Leoni, 59, and Daly, 69, were married Saturday in a small, private ceremony in New York City, Leoni's publicist confirms to Entertainment Weekly.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 15 July 2025
After over a decade together, the couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in July 2025.
—Stephanie Kaloi, People.com, 15 July 2025
The Primetime Emmy Awards will be doled out at a ceremony in Los Angeles on Sept. 14.
—Chris Foran, jsonline.com, 15 July 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 24 Jul. 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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