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

• baroque
• decorated
• extravagant
• adorned
• ornamented
• gilded
• florid
• loud
• lacy
• overwrought
• gingerbread
• overdecorated

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

Echoes of the Age of Discovery linger at Belém Tower and the ornate Jerónimos Monastery, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Fordyce Bathhouse opened in 1915 as the grandest of them all with its ornate facade, panes of stained glass, white marble staircases, sunny sitting rooms, and sprawling square footage. —Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2025

The paintings of former presidents are framed in heavily ornate gold. —Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025

The hotel is renowned for its historic interiors, featuring ornate chandeliers, vaulted ceilings, and bespoke designer suites at its original property and other locations around the world. —Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 26 Aug. 2025

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

Rhymes for ornate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Kids Definition

ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt 

: decorated in a fancy way

ornately adverb

ornateness noun