ornamentation

noun

or·​na·​men·​ta·​tion ˌȯr-nə-mən-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce ornamentation (audio)
-ˌmen-
Synonyms of ornamentationnext
1
: something that ornaments : embellishment
2
: the act or process of ornamenting : the state of being ornamented

Examples of ornamentation in a Sentence

A bright ribbon was used for ornamentation. a ballroom with elaborate ornamentation
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.
Architects, playing off each others’ designs, have developed a form of architectural ornamentation, or art form, unique to downtown Fort Lauderdale. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2026 Most of the space is dimly lit, with spotlights that accentuate Thomas’s signature strass ornamentation—liberally applied not only to the outlines of her Black female figures, but also to their ruby-red lips, lustrous hair, the lines between their toes, and the surrounding decorative patterns. Amy Verner, Vogue, 20 Dec. 2025 These people likely surrounded themselves with items that exhibited various artistic expressions and ornamentation. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 9 Dec. 2025 The ornamentation found on the beaks and tops of heads of hornbills are a structure similar to the casque on the cassowary, a bird species found in New Guinea and Australia. Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ornamentation

Word History

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ornamentation was in 1706

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Cite this Entry

“Ornamentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornamentation. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

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