ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt 

1

: marked by elaborate rhetoric (see rhetoric sense 2b) or florid (see florid sense 1a) style

is clear and simple rather than ornate and pompous

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

2

: elaborately or excessively decorated

an ornate mantle

an ornate townhouse

ornate chandeliers

ornately adverb

ornateness noun

Synonyms

• bedizened
• florid
• fussy
• gingerbread
• gingerbreaded
• gingerbready
• overdecorated
• overwrought

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

It’s only offered in one size and doesn’t rely on any sort of ornate framing or finishes. —Jack Byram, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2024

Art book lovers, artists, and lovers of culture will truly appreciate the ornate depictions of places like the Garden District, Bourbon Street, The French Quarter, Jackson Square, The River Road Plantations, Audubon’s Aquarium of the Americas, and beyond. —Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 10 July 2024

From the ornate ensembles of the opening ceremony to the tactical athletic apparel built to withstand unbelievable feats of human prowess, each and every uniform honors national pride. —Ivana Rihter, Vogue, 9 July 2024

But some on the 2024 list don’t have to imitate, including a trio of Taj properties that occupy a 1740s-era royal summer retreat in Udaipur (No. 8), a Maharaja’s residence in Jaipur dating back to 1835 (No. 9), and the ornate early 20th-century home of the Jodhpur royal family (No. 10). —Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024

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

Kids Definition

ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt 

: decorated in a fancy way

ornately adverb

ornateness noun