SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

overornament

verb, transitive + intransitive over·or·na·ment \ ˌō-vər-ə-ˈȯr-nə-ˌmen-təd \

Definition of overornament

overornamented; overornamenting

: to add excessive ornament to (something)

overornament a building's exterior

a tendency to overornament in design

First Known Use of overornament

1789

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up overornament? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

besot

play

to fill with foolish love or admiration

Words at Play

9 Words from the Magical Realm

When language is magic

alt-5afefa13cc811

A Field Guide to British Noble Titles

Know your Duchess from your Baroness

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

When it doesn't go as planned

alt-5afd9816817c1

Putting the History of 'Limelight' Center Stage

It's, ahem, an illuminating story.

Ask the Editors

video-ghost-words

Ghost Word

The story of an imaginary word that managed to sneak past our editors and enter the dictionary.

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-literally

Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

How familiar are you with Nabokov’s unfamiliar vocabulary?

Take the quiz

cow-coming-home

Farm Idioms Quiz

Not your children's farm quiz.

Take the quiz

Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz

SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game