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
Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 June 2025
While the adults chew on ornamental plants, fruit trees, berry plants, and many different shade and ornamental trees such as linden, Japanese maple, crepe myrtle, and flowering crabapple, the grubs feed on the roots of turfgrasses and vegetable seedlings, says Potter.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 May 2025
Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 5 June 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for ornamental
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Adjective
Luckily at least one herbicide is available to spray on invading grass that can be used among ornamental plants that lists Asiatic jasmine on the label.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 June 2025
While the adults chew on ornamental plants, fruit trees, berry plants, and many different shade and ornamental trees such as linden, Japanese maple, crepe myrtle, and flowering crabapple, the grubs feed on the roots of turfgrasses and vegetable seedlings, says Potter.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 7 May 2025
Noun
Today, crabapple trees—tough ornamentals native to the Central Asian mountains—blanket Detroit.
—Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 5 June 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for ornamental
Cite this Entry
“Ornamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornamental. Accessed 24 Jun. 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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