ornamental

or·na·men·tal | \ ˌȯr-nə-ˈmen-tᵊl

How to pronounce ornamental (audio)

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Definition of ornamental

(Entry 1 of 2)

: of, relating to, or serving as ornament specifically : grown as an ornamental

ornamental

Definition of ornamental (Entry 2 of 2)

: a decorative object especially : a plant cultivated for its beauty rather than for use

Other Words from ornamental Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about ornamental

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Examples of ornamental in a Sentence

Adjective The garden has many ornamental shrubs. the trim on Victorian houses is sometimes elaborately ornamental Noun The garden has many beautiful ornamentals. a collection of fragile ornamentals kept in a glass cabinet

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Most striking: Wrought iron with ornamental filigree is seen in the stucco garden wall, and inside, wrought-iron railing winds up the main staircase. — oregonlive, "1928 Mediterranean mansion with turret in Portland’s West Hills is a bit of a mystery," 7 Oct. 2020 The car even has a showy, ornamental rear fin of its own. — Popular Mechanics, "The 2020 Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Awards," 6 Oct. 2020 Turgeon, 53, an ornamental horticulture and construction worker, offered a more simple solution for recovering from the pandemic. — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Record number of candidates vie for Oceanside mayor job," 4 Oct. 2020 Elsewhere, the tree is grown only as an ornamental tree or farmed for its purported medicinal properties. — Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, "An ode to the ginkgo, as its fleeting golden leaves arrive in the last show of summer," 27 Sep. 2020 Its Indiana limestone exterior was crowded with a riot of ornamental detailing, with massive carved figures working their way into the mix. — Mike Scott, NOLA.com, "Traces of the palatial 1883 New Orleans Cotton Exchange can still be found – if you know where to look," 23 Sep. 2020 Kids will be transfixed by the koi — those ornamental carp that look like giant goldfish — swimming around Harriet Frishmuth’s 1925 bronze sculpture of a young woman. — Jon Bream, Star Tribune, "Pandemic is perfect time to savor the gardens at St. Paul's Como Park," 18 Sep. 2020 In general, things like ornamental grasses can be left standing and cut back in February or March, before new growth starts. — Jim Johnson, chicagotribune.com, "9 timely gardening and lawn tips for fall, whether you’re a pandemic gardening newbie or a seasoned pro," 3 Oct. 2020 The killer was chestnut blight, a fungus native to China and Japan that was introduced with ornamental Japanese chestnuts in the early 1900s. — Stephanie Pain, Smithsonian Magazine, "Why Tree-Killing Epidemics Are on the Rise," 28 Sep. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Deep green, textured foliage makes this variety an excellent ornamental for arbors or training against a wall. — Earl Nickel, SFChronicle.com, "How to grow a grapevine to add drama to any garden," 7 Aug. 2020 Fruit pruning doesn’t follow the rules for ornamentals. — Margaret Roach, New York Times, "Is It Time to Prune Yet?," 5 May 2020 Forsythia shrubs are beginning to provide a golden display in Northern Ohio, Pieras is in full flower and other ornamentals seem prepared to bloom at the first sign of warm weather. — cleveland, "Cleveland Metroparks remain open as signs of spring welcome visitors," 27 Mar. 2020 While often admired as simply lovely garden ornamentals, sunflowers actually have an amazing variety of uses. — The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, "The Best Way To Grow Beautiful (And Useful!) Sunflowers," 11 Apr. 2017 Women’s Club Bare Root Sale: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Select from fruit trees, flowering and weeping ornamentals. — oregonlive, "Homes and gardens events around Portland: Antique and Collectible Show, workshops, pruning demos and more," 6 Mar. 2020 The forested German landscape is in the grips of traumatic change, from the brightly flowered Asian ornamentals bursting among the river cane to the dying conifer spending its last energies in a final burst of cones. — National Geographic, "Will the skyscrapers of the future be made out of wood?," 13 Jan. 2020 Lawns are in retreat as gardeners want more space for treasured plants, for rain gardens, for pollinator gardens and even as a place to tuck herbs and other culinary plants in with the ornamentals. — Washington Post, "Lawns are in retreat. Is suburbia ready for the frontward veggie garden?," 11 Sep. 2019 Equally impressive are his reindeer, either as candy containers or ornamentals. — Brenda Yenke, cleveland, "Cultural tradition connects the holidays: Yenke Peddler antiques," 5 Dec. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ornamental.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

18 Oct 2020

Cite this Entry

“Ornamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornamental. Accessed 29 Oct. 2020.

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More Definitions for ornamental

ornamental

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of ornamental

(Entry 1 of 2)

: used to make something more attractive : used for decoration

ornamental

noun

English Language Learners Definition of ornamental (Entry 2 of 2)

chiefly US : a plant that is grown for its beauty rather than for its fruit, wood, etc. : an ornamental plant

See the full definition for ornamental in the English Language Learners Dictionary

ornamental

or·na·men·tal | \ ˌȯr-nə-ˈmen-tᵊl

\

Kids Definition of ornamental

(Entry 1 of 2)

: serving to add beauty : decorative The columns are just ornamental.

ornamental

Kids Definition of ornamental (Entry 2 of 2)

: a plant grown for its beauty

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