or·na·men·tal
ˌȯr-nə-ˈmen-tᵊl 
: of, relating to, or serving as ornament
specifically
: grown as an ornamental
: a decorative object
especially
: a plant cultivated for its beauty rather than for use
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
Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2025
Thoughtful placement and layering with other plant types, such as ornamental grasses or conifers, can enhance privacy and maintain visual appeal throughout the year.
—Debbie Wolfe, Popular Science, 8 May 2025
Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025
Companion plants for ornamentals such as hydrangeas are selected for aesthetic purposes.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ornamental
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Adjective
Some popular choices include ornamental grasses, salvias, angelonias, and coleus.
—Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2025
Thoughtful placement and layering with other plant types, such as ornamental grasses or conifers, can enhance privacy and maintain visual appeal throughout the year.
—Debbie Wolfe, Popular Science, 8 May 2025
Noun
Many deciduous ornamentals including redbuds, forsythia, crabapples, fruit trees, quince azaleas and many others were not adversely affected by last summer’s drought and the cold, windy winter and frozen soils that followed.
—Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025
Companion plants for ornamentals such as hydrangeas are selected for aesthetic purposes.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ornamental
Cite this Entry
“Ornamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornamental. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ornamental
1 of 2 adjective
or·na·men·tal
ˌȯr-nə-ˈment-ᵊl
: of, relating to, or serving as ornament
ornamental
2 of 2 noun
: a decorative object
especially
: a plant cultivated for its beauty rather than for use
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