cer·e·mo·ni·al
ˌser-ə-ˈmō-nē-əl 
ˌse-rə-
1
: marked by, involved in, or belonging to ceremony : stressing careful attention to form and detail
ceremonial rites
2
: having no real power or influence
his new position is largely ceremonial
: a ceremonial act, action, or system
Synonyms
Examples of ceremonial in a Sentence
Adjective
The tribe has different ceremonial masks for each ceremony.
His new position is largely ceremonial because all the decisions are actually made by a committee.
Noun
a number of religious ceremonials
the funeral of a pope is usually marked by rich pageantry and elaborate ceremonials
Recent Examples on the Web
Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
Webber will throw out the ceremonial first pitch when the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats play the El Paso Chihuahuas on Saturday at Sutter Health Park.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 13 Apr. 2024
Organizing that celebration has been something of a challenge: Leverkusen, a small city sandwiched between Cologne and Düsseldorf, does not possess a civic building with a ceremonial balcony big enough to allow the team to greet its fans.
—Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
The ceremonial launch for the first major of the season was delayed by two-and-a-half hours because of thunderstorms in the area.
—Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
After a two-and-a-half-hour delay due to bad weather, huge crowds gathered to watch the all-star trio hit the ceremonial opening shots of the tournament.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
Watson and fellow legends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player participated in the traditional start to the tournament, hitting their ceremonial tee shots on No. 1.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Cathedrals are the mother church and ceremonial seat of a diocese.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2024
Dunn's parents, Josephine and Mitch Dunn, stood behind Hobbs at her ceremonial event Wednesday, next to Sen. Christine Marsh, a Phoenix Democrat whose son died of an overdose.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023
Nothing ceremonial marked the reopening, but a parking lot memorial stood as a reminder of the recent tragedy.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023
He’s aided in this regard by DP Khalid Mohtaseb’s artfully dank lensing in shades of green and gold and gunge, and the shrieking ceremonials of Jed Kurzel’s suitably unrestrained score.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Apr. 2023
Why Frank Jackson had held that ceremonial?
—Laura Johnston, cleveland, 25 Aug. 2022
The activism goes beyond the ceremonial.
—Phil Taylor, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Nov. 2020
Matchaful's Kiwami single cultivar ceremonial matcha is perfect for those who want the best possible flavor and quality — as well as an energizing drink.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2022
There are three main types of matcha tea ceremonial, culinary, and matcha latte.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Mar. 2022
The British empire soon crumbled, but Elizabeth managed to maintain a regal — if ceremonial — position as the head of the Commonwealth, the 54 nations of mostly previous British colonies.
—Andrew Meldrum, ajc, 9 Sep. 2022
Adjective
During the April 13 game, Asia, Nasir and Podolak dropped the ceremonial first puck and met players on the team — and the mom had another chance to thank her hero in person for his kind act.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
Webber will throw out the ceremonial first pitch when the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats play the El Paso Chihuahuas on Saturday at Sutter Health Park.
—Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 13 Apr. 2024
Organizing that celebration has been something of a challenge: Leverkusen, a small city sandwiched between Cologne and Düsseldorf, does not possess a civic building with a ceremonial balcony big enough to allow the team to greet its fans.
—Christopher F. Schuetze, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2024
The ceremonial launch for the first major of the season was delayed by two-and-a-half hours because of thunderstorms in the area.
—Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2024
After a two-and-a-half-hour delay due to bad weather, huge crowds gathered to watch the all-star trio hit the ceremonial opening shots of the tournament.
—Jack Bantock, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
Watson and fellow legends Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player participated in the traditional start to the tournament, hitting their ceremonial tee shots on No. 1.
—Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Cathedrals are the mother church and ceremonial seat of a diocese.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2024
Dunn's parents, Josephine and Mitch Dunn, stood behind Hobbs at her ceremonial event Wednesday, next to Sen. Christine Marsh, a Phoenix Democrat whose son died of an overdose.
—Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024
Noun
As her funeral is shown on The Crown season 6, here’s everything to know about the royal ceremonial.
—Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 16 Nov. 2023
Nothing ceremonial marked the reopening, but a parking lot memorial stood as a reminder of the recent tragedy.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2023
He’s aided in this regard by DP Khalid Mohtaseb’s artfully dank lensing in shades of green and gold and gunge, and the shrieking ceremonials of Jed Kurzel’s suitably unrestrained score.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 7 Apr. 2023
Why Frank Jackson had held that ceremonial?
—Laura Johnston, cleveland, 25 Aug. 2022
The activism goes beyond the ceremonial.
—Phil Taylor, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Nov. 2020
Matchaful's Kiwami single cultivar ceremonial matcha is perfect for those who want the best possible flavor and quality — as well as an energizing drink.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2022
There are three main types of matcha tea ceremonial, culinary, and matcha latte.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Mar. 2022
The British empire soon crumbled, but Elizabeth managed to maintain a regal — if ceremonial — position as the head of the Commonwealth, the 54 nations of mostly previous British colonies.
—Andrew Meldrum, ajc, 9 Sep. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ceremonial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Ceremonial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ceremonial. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ceremonial
1 of 2 adjective
cer·e·mo·ni·al
ˌser-ə-ˈmō-nē-əl
: of, relating to, or forming a ceremony
ceremonialness
noun
ceremonial
2 of 2 noun
: a ceremonial act, action, or system
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