ceremony

English Online Dictionary. What means ceremony‎? What does ceremony mean?

English

Alternative forms

• cæremony, cærimony (both archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English cerymonye, from Latin caerimonia or caeremonia, later often cerimonia (“sacredness, reverence, a sacred rite”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛɹ.ɪ.mə.ni/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛɹ.əˌmoʊ.ni/
• (Philippines, nonstandard) IPA^(key): /sɛɹˈɛ.mə.ni/
• Hyphenation: cer‧e‧mo‧ny

Noun

ceremony (countable and uncountable, plural ceremonies)

1. A ritual, with religious or cultural significance.
2. An official gathering to celebrate, commemorate, or otherwise mark some event.

3. (uncountable) A formal socially established behaviour, often in relation to people of different ranks; formality.
4. (uncountable) Show of magnificence, display, ostentation.
5. (obsolete) An accessory or object associated with a ritual.
6. (obsolete) An omen or portent.

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “ceremony”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
• “ceremony”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “ceremony”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
• “ceremony”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Middle English

Noun

ceremony

1. Alternative form of cerymonye