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
Synonyms
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
Cher had the support of some of her nearest and dearest at the 2024 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
—Becca Longmire, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024
During the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Keith’s expertise as a songwriter was noted, as were his accolades from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the BMI Icon Award.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2024
The inductions returned to Cleveland Saturday night for a nearly five-and-a-half-hour ceremony featuring an array of music legends and current stars to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
—Troy Smith, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024
Liam Payne was remembered on Saturday evening during this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees’ ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio.
—Caroline Frost, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ceremony 
Becca Longmire, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024
During the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Keith’s expertise as a songwriter was noted, as were his accolades from the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and the BMI Icon Award.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2024
The inductions returned to Cleveland Saturday night for a nearly five-and-a-half-hour ceremony featuring an array of music legends and current stars to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
—Troy Smith, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024
Liam Payne was remembered on Saturday evening during this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees’ ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio.
—Caroline Frost, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ceremony
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ceremony.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Ceremony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceremony. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
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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