ornamental

1 of 2

adjective

or·​na·​men·​tal ˌȯr-nə-ˈmen-tᵊl How to pronounce ornamental (audio)
: of, relating to, or serving as ornament
specifically : grown as an ornamental
ornamentally adverb

ornamental

2 of 2

noun

: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The foliage turns brilliant scarlet in fall, so it’s often chosen as an ornamental tree for its autumn color. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025 Four Petal Flowers Ornamental Textile At the time of restoration, there were no records describing the production process for the ornamental textiles with their pattern of four petal flowers. Isabelle Kliger, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Noun
Another garden mainstay, marigolds bloom from early summer through fall, and they're cherished as ornamentals as well as pest-repelling companion plants. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Aug. 2025 Mealybugs can affect all types of crops, ornamentals, and houseplants, including succulents and cacti. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 31 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for ornamental

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1595, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1650, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ornamental was in 1595

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Cite this Entry

“Ornamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornamental. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

ornamental

1 of 2 adjective
or·​na·​men·​tal ˌȯr-nə-ˈment-ᵊl How to pronounce ornamental (audio)
: of, relating to, or serving as ornament
ornamentally adverb

ornamental

2 of 2 noun
: a decorative object
especially : a plant cultivated for its beauty rather than for use

More from Merriam-Webster on ornamental

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