plural ceremonies
Definition of ceremony
1 : a formal act or series of acts prescribed by ritual, protocol, or convention
the marriage ceremony
2a : 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 weekly ceremony of giving out the wages to the help
3a : 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
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times
- What is an earlier meaning of nice?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Anagram puzzles meet word search.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Slippery Words Quiz—Changing with the Times
Do you know these earlier meanings of words?
Take the quizWords of Snow and Ice Quiz
A selection of words from the chillier parts of t...
Take the quizHow Strong Is Your Vocabulary?
Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!
Take the quizSCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!
Play the game
Share ceremony
Time Traveler for ceremony
The first known use of ceremony was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century