Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Of, appropriate to, or characterized by ceremony; formal or ritual.
  • adjective Involved or used in ceremonies.
  • noun A set of ceremonies prescribed for an occasion; a ritual.
  • noun A ceremony or rite.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A prehistoric stone implement-supposed to have been used for ceremonial purposes.
  • Relating to ceremonies or external forms or rites: ritual; pertaining to or consisting in the observance of set forms or formalities.
  • Specifically Pertaining to the forms and rites of the Jewish religion: as, the ceremonial law, as distinguished from the moral law.
  • Observant of forms; precise in manners; formal: as, “the dull, ceremonial track,”
  • Synonyms Ceremonious, Formal, etc. See ceremonious.
  • noun A system of rites or ceremonies enjoined by law or established by custom, as in religious worship, social intercourse, etc.; rites, formalities, or requirements of etiquette, to be observed on any special occasion.
  • noun Specifically The order for rites and forms in the Roman Catholic Church, or the book containing the rules prescribed to be observed on solemn occasions.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Relating to ceremony, or external rite; ritual; according to the forms of established rites.
  • adjective Observant of forms; ceremonious. [In this sense ceremonious is now preferred.]
  • noun A system of rules and ceremonies, enjoined by law, or established by custom, in religious worship, social intercourse, or the courts of princes; outward form.
  • noun The order for rites and forms in the Roman Catholic church, or the book containing the rules prescribed to be observed on solemn occasions.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Of, relating to, or used in a ceremony; ritual or formal.
  • noun A ceremony, or series of ceremonies, prescribed by ritual.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective marked by pomp or ceremony or formality
  • noun a formal event performed on a special occasion

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

  • These and other scenes of Investitures, State Openings of Parliament, proceedings of Justices, Troopings of the Colour and the like come readily to mind when the word ceremonial is mentioned, and quite rightly.

    Ceremonial and Insignia—Some Considerations 1975

  • We distinguish betwixt what we call the ceremonial or the political law of the Jews, and the moral law.

    Christian Doctrine of Sin 1823-1886 1876

  • I also do not dress in ceremonial Yucatecan huipiles, or beaded leather fringed suits, cheongsams, grass skirts or fireman outfits.

    On Passing 2009

  • I also do not dress in ceremonial Yucatecan huipiles, or beaded leather fringed suits, cheongsams, grass skirts or fireman outfits.

    On Passing 2009

  • I also do not dress in ceremonial Yucatecan huipiles, or beaded leather fringed suits, cheongsams, grass skirts or fireman outfits.

    On Passing 2009

  • I also do not dress in ceremonial Yucatecan huipiles, or beaded leather fringed suits, cheongsams, grass skirts or fireman outfits.

    On Passing 2009

  • I also do not dress in ceremonial Yucatecan huipiles, or beaded leather fringed suits, cheongsams, grass skirts or fireman outfits.

    On Passing 2009

  • I also do not dress in ceremonial Yucatecan huipiles, or beaded leather fringed suits, cheongsams, grass skirts or fireman outfits.

    On Passing 2009

  • I also do not dress in ceremonial Yucatecan huipiles, or beaded leather fringed suits, cheongsams, grass skirts or fireman outfits.

    On Passing 2009

  • I also do not dress in ceremonial Yucatecan huipiles, or beaded leather fringed suits, cheongsams, grass skirts or fireman outfits.

    On Passing 2009

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