Definitions for ceremony
ˈsɛr əˌmoʊ nicer·e·mo·ny

Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. ceremony, ceremonial, ceremonial occasion, observancenoun

   a formal event performed on a special occasion

   "a ceremony commemorating Pearl Harbor"

2. ceremonynoun

   any activity that is performed in an especially solemn elaborate or formal way

   "the ceremony of smelling the cork and tasting the wine"; "he makes a ceremony of addressing his golf ball"; "he disposed of it without ceremony"

3. ceremonynoun

   the proper or conventional behavior on some solemn occasion

   "an inaugural ceremony"

Wiktionary(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. ceremonynoun

   A ritual with religious significance.

2. ceremonynoun

   An official gathering to celebrate, commemorate, or otherwise mark some event.

3. ceremonynoun

   Formal socially-established behaviour often in relation to people of different ranks.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. CEREMONYnoun

   Etymology: ceremonia, Lat.

   1. Outward rite; external form in religion.

   Bring her up to the high altar, that she may
   The sacred ceremonies partake. Edmund Spenser, Epithalamium.

   He is superstitious grown of late,
   Quite from the main opinion he held once
   Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies. William Shakespeare, J. Cæsar.

   Disrobe the images,
   If you find them deck’d with ceremony. William Shakespeare, J. Cæsar.

   2. Forms of civility.

   The sauce to meat is ceremony;
   Meeting were bare without it. William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

   Not to use ceremonies at all, is to teach others not to use them again, and so diminish respect to himself. Francis Bacon.

   3. Outward forms of state.

   What art thou, thou idle ceremony?
   What kind of god art thou, that suffer’st more
   Of mortal grief, than do thy worshippers?
   Art thou aught else but place, degree, and form? William Shakespeare, Henry V.

   A coarser place,
   Where pomp and ceremonies enter’d not,
   Where greatness was shut out, and bigness well forgot. John Dryden, Fables.

Webster Dictionary(3.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Ceremonynoun

   ar act or series of acts, often of a symbolical character, prescribed by law, custom, or authority, in the conduct of important matters, as in the performance of religious duties, the transaction of affairs of state, and the celebration of notable events; as, the ceremony of crowning a sovereign; the ceremonies observed in consecrating a church; marriage and baptismal ceremonies

2. Ceremonynoun

   behavior regulated by strict etiquette; a formal method of performing acts of civility; forms of civility prescribed by custom or authority

3. Ceremonynoun

   a ceremonial symbols; an emblem, as a crown, scepter, garland, etc

4. Ceremonynoun

   a sign or prodigy; a portent

5. Etymology: [F. crmonie, L. caerimonia; perh. akin to E. create and from a root signifying to do or make.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Ceremony

   A ceremony is an event of ritual significance, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan origin, via the Latin caerimonia.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Ceremony

   ser′e-mo-ni, n. a sacred rite: the outward form, religious or otherwise: any empty form without inwardness: pomp or state; a portent or omen.—adj. Ceremō′nial, relating to ceremony.—n. outward form: a system of ceremonies.—n. Ceremō′nialism, adherence to outward form.—adv. Ceremō′nially.—adj. Ceremō′nious, full of ceremony: particular in observing forms: precise.—adv. Ceremō′niously.—n. Ceremōniousness.—Master of ceremonies, the person who directs the form and order of the ceremonies to be observed on some public occasion. [Fr.—L. cærimonia, sanctity.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. ceremony

   A type of event for a specific purpose.

   The wedding ceremony was so very beautiful and about unity and love.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 7, 2020  

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. ceremony

   Song lyrics by ceremony -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by ceremony on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Activity

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'ceremony' in Nouns Frequency: #1724

How to pronounce ceremony?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say ceremony in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of ceremony in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of ceremony in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of ceremony in a Sentence

1. White House:

   In light of some recent development, I am unable to attend today’s ceremony, as I am attending to some personal family matters.

2. Sifan Hassan:

   I ’m so happy and I cried during the medal ceremony, i actually realised that I ’m done, the Games are over.

3. Tori Short:

   The captain who put the whole thing together spoke at Sam's Eagle, Globe and Anchor ceremony and talked about Sam being a warrior.

4. Jaime Harrison:

   Had it not been for the governor saying she was supportive of this, I don't think we would have been at the ceremony we were at today, i know people say it was political, but she did what was right and for that I can't be mad at her. I'm very appreciative of her.

5. Ben Rhodes:

   It took us by some surprise, there's a great affinity between the United States and India and our people, but there's also a history that is complicated and that would have made it seem highly unlikely that a U.S. president would be sitting with India's leaders at their Republic Day ceremony.

Popularity rank by frequency of use