ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt How to pronounce ornate (audio)
1
: marked by elaborate rhetoric (see rhetoric sense 2b) or florid (see florid sense 1a) style
is clear and simple rather than ornate and pompousThe Times Literary Supplement (London)
2
: elaborately or excessively decorated
an ornate mantle
an ornate townhouse
ornate chandeliers
ornately adverb
ornateness noun

Examples of ornate in a Sentence

She doesn't like ornate jewelry. an ornate gambling casino that is designed to look like an Italian palace
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.
Much of its original charm still remains, from rich carpeted staircases to vintage chandeliers and ornate moldings. Kim Kay, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2025 New York The Palace of Versailles’ stables inspired the look of this stunning scarlet space, featuring a barrel-vaulted ceiling with three ornate chandeliers, a 60-foot bar and black-and-white checkerboard flooring. Jennifer Kester, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025 The couple also looks to the ceiling and its ornate copper-tiled appearance. Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 15 July 2025 Most notable is The Frame, which is designed with a thick, ornate border and is conceived to sit flush against a wall to emulate a work of art. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for ornate

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ornat, from Latin ornatus, past participle of ornare to furnish, embellish; akin to Latin ordo order — more at order

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ornate was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ornate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornate. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

ornate

adjective
or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt How to pronounce ornate (audio)
: decorated in a fancy way
ornately adverb
ornateness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ornate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!