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

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

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"

WiktionaryRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Ceremony

   A ceremony (UK: , US: ) is a unified ritualistic event with a purpose, usually consisting of a number of artistic components, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan origin, via the Latin caerimonia.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ceremony

   A ceremony is a formal event or ritual performed on special occasions, often for religious, cultural, social, or institutional purposes. It often involves a series of actions or performances conducted in a prescribed order, and may include rites, rituals, speeches, music, dancing, or feasting. Examples of ceremonies include weddings, funerals, graduations, inaugurations, and award ceremonies.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:3.5 / 2 votes

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.]

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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 ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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 ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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. Sun Bear:

   When humans participate in ceremony, they enter a sacred space. Everything outside of that space shrivels in importance. Time takes on a different dimension. Emotions flow more freely. The bodies of participants become filled with the energy of life, and this energy reaches out and blesses the creation around them. All is made new everything becomes sacred.

2. Buckingham Palace:

   Her Majesty The Queen has kindly given permission for the ceremony to take place at The Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, the ceremony will be followed by a private reception, given by the queen, in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

3. Talladega College President Billy Hawkins:

   It’s about the students to have an opportunity to participate in this national stage, in this inaugural ceremony, it’s a civics ceremony. It’s not about politics.

4. Elbert Hubbard:

   A legal or religious ceremony by which two persons of the opposite sex solemnly agree to harass and spy on each other... until death do them join.

5. Kathleen Norris:

   Intimacy is what makes a marriage, not a ceremony, not a piece of paper from the state.

Popularity rank by frequency of use