or·na·ment
ˈȯr-nə-mənt 
plural ornaments
1
archaic
: a useful accessory
2
a
: something that lends grace, beauty, or festivity
holiday ornaments
b
: a manner or quality that adorns
3
: one whose virtues or graces add luster to a place or society
4
: the act of adorning or being adorned
5
: an embellishing note not belonging to the essential harmony or melody
called also embellishment, fioritura
Synonyms
Examples of ornament in a Sentence
Noun
She wore a hair ornament.
The columns are there purely as ornament—they have no structural function.
Verb
flower patterns used to ornament boxes
delicate crystal figurines ornament the mantel over the fireplace
Recent Examples on the Web
Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Rope, sticks, and leather straps surround this simple but effective black burlap face; its eyes are outlined in twine, and half a dozen chunks of volcanic rock hang down as ornaments.
—Will Heinrich, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
MacDowell wore a a Cynthia Rowley floral-print maxi dress decorated with a flower ornament at the waist for the big day.
—Emily Strohm, Peoplemag, 24 Jan. 2024
As the twinkle of bulbous holiday ornaments fade away, the gilded glisten of the 2024 Golden Globes arrives, and EW has some bold predictions for winners in the major categories that could be handed out during Sunday's ceremony.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2024
War, labor strikes and a thorny political season made scant inroads at the 2024 Academy Awards, where branding trumped protest and jeweled ornaments far outnumbered cease-fire pins.
—Guy Trebay, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
As for the exterior, Bedrock cleaned the tower's once-grimy limestone facade and green copper roof and restored numerous detailed ornaments.
—Detroit Free Press, 14 Feb. 2024
For a gift, the Woods found a Precious Moments angel ornament in the chapel shop inscribed with her name.
—Edward M. Eveld, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2024
In fact, there’s even some evidence that ancient humans in South America hunted down the sloths for their bony skin, furnishing the animal’s osteoderms into necklaces and other such ornaments.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024
Several families are also taking it up a notch — ornamenting their houses with interactive set-ups, snow machines and hot chocolate stands.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024
She also was known for selling Inge Glas ornaments from Germany at the shop.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, Journal Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2024
This beautiful image shows our magnetically hyperactive sun, ornamented with bright solar flares, arcs, and plasma streamers.
—Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2010
The all-white structures combine modernist and medieval, minimalist and ornamented.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2024
On Thursday, the Grammy-winning singer, 30, shared a carousel of photos to Instagram, including one snap that showed a Spam can ornament hanging on a wall Christmas tree made of green garland.
—Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 22 Dec. 2023
Each of the hotel’s 24 suites is ornamented with tile mosaics and Afghan and Tibetan artifacts.
—Alexandra Malmed, Vogue, 8 Nov. 2023
The firm incorporated beautiful moldings and cornices, coffered ceilings, custom furniture, textured wallpaper, and light fixtures ornamented with glass pendants that add a delicate touch.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2023
Noun
Choose from five different design options, which include personalizing both sides of the ornament and selecting an ornament style and material, such as aluminum or ceramic.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Rope, sticks, and leather straps surround this simple but effective black burlap face; its eyes are outlined in twine, and half a dozen chunks of volcanic rock hang down as ornaments.
—Will Heinrich, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024
MacDowell wore a a Cynthia Rowley floral-print maxi dress decorated with a flower ornament at the waist for the big day.
—Emily Strohm, Peoplemag, 24 Jan. 2024
As the twinkle of bulbous holiday ornaments fade away, the gilded glisten of the 2024 Golden Globes arrives, and EW has some bold predictions for winners in the major categories that could be handed out during Sunday's ceremony.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 5 Jan. 2024
War, labor strikes and a thorny political season made scant inroads at the 2024 Academy Awards, where branding trumped protest and jeweled ornaments far outnumbered cease-fire pins.
—Guy Trebay, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024
As for the exterior, Bedrock cleaned the tower's once-grimy limestone facade and green copper roof and restored numerous detailed ornaments.
—Detroit Free Press, 14 Feb. 2024
For a gift, the Woods found a Precious Moments angel ornament in the chapel shop inscribed with her name.
—Edward M. Eveld, Kansas City Star, 25 Jan. 2024
In fact, there’s even some evidence that ancient humans in South America hunted down the sloths for their bony skin, furnishing the animal’s osteoderms into necklaces and other such ornaments.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
Verb
The 12-piece collection includes asymmetrical, mobile-style chandeliers; chunky ceramic table lamps and delicate gold pieces ornamented with beadlike baubles.
—Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024
Several families are also taking it up a notch — ornamenting their houses with interactive set-ups, snow machines and hot chocolate stands.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 30 Jan. 2024
She also was known for selling Inge Glas ornaments from Germany at the shop.
—Cathy Kozlowicz, Journal Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2024
This beautiful image shows our magnetically hyperactive sun, ornamented with bright solar flares, arcs, and plasma streamers.
—Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2010
The all-white structures combine modernist and medieval, minimalist and ornamented.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2024
On Thursday, the Grammy-winning singer, 30, shared a carousel of photos to Instagram, including one snap that showed a Spam can ornament hanging on a wall Christmas tree made of green garland.
—Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 22 Dec. 2023
Each of the hotel’s 24 suites is ornamented with tile mosaics and Afghan and Tibetan artifacts.
—Alexandra Malmed, Vogue, 8 Nov. 2023
The firm incorporated beautiful moldings and cornices, coffered ceilings, custom furniture, textured wallpaper, and light fixtures ornamented with glass pendants that add a delicate touch.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ornament.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing ornament
Dictionary Entries Near ornament
Cite this Entry
“Ornament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornament. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
ornament
1 of 2 noun
or·na·ment
ˈȯr-nə-mənt
1
: something that adds beauty : decoration
2
: addition of something that beautifies
a satin bow applied for ornament
ornament
2 of 2 verb
or·na·ment
ˈȯr-nə-ˌment
: to provide with ornament : adorn
ornamentation
noun
ˌȯr-nə-mən-ˈtā-shən
-ˌmen-
More from Merriam-Webster on ornament
Nglish: Translation of ornament for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of ornament for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ornament
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