ceremony

noun

cer·​e·​mo·​ny ˈser-ə-ˌmō-nē 

ˈse-rə-

plural ceremonies

1

: a formal act or series of acts prescribed by ritual, protocol, or convention

the marriage ceremony

2

a

: a conventional act of politeness or etiquette

the ceremony of introduction

b

: an action performed only formally with no deep significance

The custom had probably been long a mere ceremony …

—C. Thirlwall

c

: a routine action performed with elaborate pomp

… the opening bell [of the New York Stock Exchange] is still an important daily ceremony, attracting corporate chiefs and celebrities.

—John Carney

3

a

: prescribed procedures : usages

the ceremony attending an inauguration

b

: observance of an established code of civility or politeness

opened the door without ceremony and strode in

Synonyms of ceremony

• ritual
• ceremonial

Examples of ceremony in a Sentence

There will be a ceremony honoring the town's veterans next week.

With great ceremony, the children presented each of the visitors with a gift.

He told them abruptly and without ceremony that they would have to leave.

Recent Examples on the Web

The ceremony also caps a year in which ARIA marked its 40th anniversary with a standalone Hall of Fame event in June, inducting Gurrumul, Jenny Morris, Kate Ceberano, Spiderbait, The Living End, and Vika & Linda. — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026

An unusual treat is the co-ed soaking pool, overlooking Lake Mishkin, which allows families to plunge and relax together before or after their treatments, which run the gamut from massage to sound bath to tea ceremonies. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

The private, invite-only ceremony will be produced in partnership with Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE), the Emmy-winning company behind the BET Awards, the Emmy Awards, and the Super Bowl Halftime Show. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

The festival also has a Vision Awards ceremony – recognising films across both the ‘Vision – Korea’ and ‘Vision – Asia’ sections – in which a wide range of independent juries hand out prizes. — Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ceremonie, from Middle French ceremonie, from Latin caerimonia

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ceremony

• stand on ceremony

Rhymes for ceremony

• abalone
• acrimony
• alimony
• antimony
• chalcedony
• cicerone
• cosmogony
• eurozone
• lithopone
• macaroni
• matrimony
• parsimony

Kids Definition

ceremony

noun

cer·​e·​mo·​ny ˈser-ə-ˌmō-nē 

plural ceremonies

1

: a formal act or series of acts performed in some regular way according to fixed rules

graduation ceremonies

2

: very polite behavior : formality

dined without ceremony