Dictionary

ceremony en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈsɛɹ.əˌmoʊ.ni/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /səˈɹɛ.mɔ.ni/ (Philippines, nonstandard)
• (US) audio
• /ˈsɛɹ.ɪ.mə.ni/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

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

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A ritual, with religious or cultural significance.
   • Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea. 1881, Henry James, Jr., chapter 1, in The Portrait of a Lady, New York, N.Y.: Houghton, Mifflin and Company […], →OCLC, page 1:
   • To whom the Priest with naked armes full net Approching nigh, and murdrous knife well whet, Gan mutter close a certaine secret charme, With other diuelish ceremonies met: 1596, Edmund Spenser, “Book VI, Canto VIII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, pages 463-464:
   • This year, due to the fact that the 24th of the Hebrew month of Tishrei falls on Shabbat, the ceremonies will be held on Sunday, the 25th of Tishrei, as they will be every year when the 24th of Tishrei falls on Shabbat. 2024 March 17, “Government Unanimously Approves National Remembrance Day for October 7 Disaster and the Swords of Iron War”, in gov.il, archived from the original on 04 Dec 2025:
   • In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep [the passover] in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 9:3:
2. (countable, uncountable) An official gathering to celebrate, commemorate, or otherwise mark some event.
   • a graduation ceremony, an opening ceremony
   • Promontory's "last spike" ceremony was so significant to the USA's history that it is still regularly re-enacted today, using replica locomotives that nose up to each other just as the originals did. 2025 November 12, Tony Streeter, “All around the world”, in RAIL, number 1048, page 42:
3. (countable, uncountable) An official gathering to celebrate, commemorate, or otherwise mark some event. ▸ A wedding ceremony; a marriage.
4. (uncountable) A formal socially established behaviour, often in relation to people of different ranks; formality.
   • They went into the bars and interrupted the drinking, hustling the men out without ceremony. 1959, C. S. Forester, Hunting the Bismarck, London: Michael Joseph:
   • […] to feed were best at home; From thence the sauce to meat is ceremony; Meeting were bare without it. c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv]:
   • Monsieur Bridet, notwithstanding his costume and his evident harrassment [sic], found in himself the presence of mind to remain the attentive manager, and with ceremony effected the proper introduction. 1928, W. Somerset Maugham, “Miss King”, in Ashenden, New York: Avon, published 1943, page 37:
5. (uncountable) Show of magnificence, display, ostentation.
   • Immediately after her arrival, the queen rode forth to survey the camp and its environs: wherever she went, she was attended by a splendid retinue; and all the commanders vied with each other, in the pomp and ceremony with which they received her. 1829, Washington Irving, chapter 46, in A Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada, volume II, Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Carey, page 254:
   • Meanwhile the winged Heralds, by command Of sovereign power, with awful ceremony And trumpet’s sound, throughout the host proclaim A solemn council forthwith to be held At Pandemonium […] 1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 752-756:
6. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) An accessory or object associated with a ritual.
   • […] his ceremonies laid by, in his nakedness he appears but a man […] 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:
   • […] Well, believe this, No ceremony that to great ones ’longs, Not the king’s crown, nor the deputed sword, The marshal’s truncheon, nor the judge’s robe, Become them with one half so good a grace As mercy does. c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
7. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) An omen or portent.
   • Caesar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet now they fright me. 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
   • For he is superstitious grown of late, Quite from the main opinion he held once Of fantasy, of dreams, and ceremonies. 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:

Forms

Deriveds

ceremonialness · without ceremony · tea ceremony · opening ceremony · awards ceremony · ceremoniously · master of ceremony · minimony · smoking ceremony · master of ceremonies · preceremony · ceremonially · ceremonialism · closing ceremony · ramp ceremony · stand on ceremony · New Fire ceremony · award ceremony · ceremonial · flag ceremony · ceremoniousness · ceremoniless · initiation ceremony · mistress of ceremonies · ceremonious

Translations (191)

fr cérémonie (ritual with religious significance) · et tseremoonia (official gathering to celebrate) · ar اِحْتِفَال (ritual with religious significance) · sh ceremònija (official gathering to celebrate) · fi seremonia (ritual with religious significance) · vi nghi lễ (ritual with religious significance) · tt мөрәсим (ritual with religious significance) · ru этике́т (formal socially-established behaviour) · ja 儀式 (ritual with religious significance) · tr merasim (official gathering to celebrate) · da ceremoni (ritual with religious significance) · grc τελετή (ritual with religious significance) · pt cerimônia (ritual with religious significance) · es ceremonia (ritual with religious significance) · ka წესჩვეულება (ritual with religious significance) · tl seremonya (ritual with religious significance) · pl ceremonia (formal socially-established behaviour) · lv ceremonija (ritual with religious significance) · sk ceremónia (official gathering to celebrate) · ar حَفْل (official gathering to celebrate) · fi seremonia (official gathering to celebrate) · sh ceremònija (ritual with religious significance) · sa अनुष्ठान (ritual with religious significance) · kqr pongadatan (ritual with religious significance) · bn অনুষ্ঠান (ritual with religious significance) · egy i-ir-w-A53 (ritual with religious significance) · mi ritenga (ritual with religious significance) · ko 전례 (official gathering to celebrate) · ru ритуа́л (ritual with religious significance) · cmn 典禮 /典礼 (official gathering to celebrate) · eu zeremonia (ritual with religious significance) · be абра́д (ritual with religious significance) · hit 𒊭𒀝𒆷𒅖 (ritual with religious significance) · az ayin (ritual with religious significance) · lo ພິທີ (ritual with religious significance) · mi kawanga (ritual with religious significance) · eo ceremonio (ritual with religious significance) · th พิธี (ritual with religious significance) · tg маросим (ritual with religious significance) · hi अनुष्ठान (ritual with religious significance) · gd deas-ghnàth (official gathering to celebrate) · sh svèčanōst (ritual with religious significance) · ar رَسْمِيَّات (official gathering to celebrate) · be цырымо́нія (ritual with religious significance) · pt cerimónia (ritual with religious significance) · nl plechtigheid (official gathering to celebrate) · my အခမ်းအနား (ritual with religious significance) · fi kursailu (formal socially-established behaviour) · ro ceremonie (official gathering to celebrate) · hy արարողություն (official gathering to celebrate) · uk церемо́нія (ritual with religious significance) · ko 예식 (ritual with religious significance) · bg етикет (formal socially-established behaviour) · tr tören (ritual with religious significance) · cmn 祭 (ritual with religious significance) · pl obrzęd (ritual with religious significance) · th พิธีกรรม (ritual with religious significance) · pt cerimónia (formal socially-established behaviour) · ro ceremonie (ritual with religious significance) · de Zeremonie (ritual with religious significance) · de Ritual (ritual with religious significance) · he טֶקֶס (ritual with religious significance) · ur تَقْرِیب (ritual with religious significance) · nl ceremonie (official gathering to celebrate) · tr ayin (ritual with religious significance) · ja セレモニー (official gathering to celebrate) · th พิธีการ (formal socially-established behaviour) · nl plechtigheid (ritual with religious significance) · nv hatáál (ritual with religious significance) · be цырымо́нія (official gathering to celebrate) · es ceremonia (formal socially-established behaviour) · hy ծես (ritual with religious significance) · pt cerimônia (formal socially-established behaviour) · uk церемо́нія (official gathering to celebrate) · cmn 禮節 /礼节 (formal socially-established behaviour) · az mərasim (ritual with religious significance) · ro ceremonie (formal socially-established behaviour) · cs obřad (official gathering to celebrate) · ml ആചാരം (ritual with religious significance) · de Feier (official gathering to celebrate) · yi צערעמאָניע (ritual with religious significance) · gd deas-ghnàth (ritual with religious significance) · sv ceremoni (official gathering to celebrate) · uz marosim (ritual with religious significance) · sh svèčanōst (official gathering to celebrate) · km ពិធី (ritual with religious significance) · pl ceremonia (ritual with religious significance) · da ceremoni (official gathering to celebrate) · gl cerimonia (ritual with religious significance) · cs ceremonie (official gathering to celebrate) · gl cerimonia (official gathering to celebrate) · bg церемо́ния (official gathering to celebrate) · fa مراسم (ritual with religious significance) · ar مَرَاسِم (official gathering to celebrate) · sh òbred (ritual with religious significance) · ca cerimònia (ritual with religious significance) · is athöfn (official gathering to celebrate) · pl ceremonia (official gathering to celebrate) · he טֶקֶס (official gathering to celebrate) · fi muodollinen käytös (formal socially-established behaviour) · tl galian (ritual with religious significance) · nb seremoni (ritual with religious significance) · tr tören (formal socially-established behaviour) · tr merasim (ritual with religious significance) · fr cérémonie (official gathering to celebrate) · uk обря́д (ritual with religious significance) · nrf cérémonie (official gathering to celebrate) · ko 세리머니 (official gathering to celebrate) · gl cerimonia (formal socially-established behaviour) · oc ceremònia (ritual with religious significance) · nrf cérémonie (ritual with religious significance) · sh церемо̀нија (ritual with religious significance) · ar مَرَاسِم (ritual with religious significance) · is athöfn (ritual with religious significance) · de Zeremonie (official gathering to celebrate) · cmn -式 (official gathering to celebrate) · tr seremoni (ritual with religious significance) · pdt Zerremonie (ritual with religious significance) · sv högtidlighet (official gathering to celebrate) · et tseremoonia (ritual with religious significance) · ar حَفْل رَسْمِيّ (formal socially-established behaviour) · ja -式 (official gathering to celebrate) · ug مۇراسىم (ritual with religious significance) · hu szertartás (ritual with religious significance) · sl slovesnost (ritual with religious significance) · vi nghi thức (ritual with religious significance) · mk церемонија (official gathering to celebrate) · id upacara (ritual with religious significance) · hi समारोह (ritual with religious significance) · ky азем (ritual with religious significance) · te ఉత్సవం (ritual with religious significance) · bg церемо́ния (ritual with religious significance) · sk obrad (ritual with religious significance) · nl ceremonie (ritual with religious significance) · ja 式典 (ritual with religious significance) · cmn 儀式 /仪式 (ritual with religious significance) · el τελετουργικό (formal socially-established behaviour) · ru церемо́ния (ritual with religious significance) · ml ചടങ്ങ് (official gathering to celebrate) · cmn 儀禮 /仪礼 (formal socially-established behaviour) · bg обре́д (ritual with religious significance) · ka ცერემონია (ritual with religious significance) · cs obřad (ritual with religious significance) · de feierliche Handlung (ritual with religious significance) · sv ceremoni (ritual with religious significance) · ar طَقْس مُقَدِّس (ritual with religious significance) · mn ёслол (ritual with religious significance) · sh свѐчано̄ст (official gathering to celebrate) · gd deas-ghnàth (formal socially-established behaviour) · tr tören (official gathering to celebrate) · ms upacara (ritual with religious significance) · fi muodollisuus (formal socially-established behaviour) · sh церемо̀нија (official gathering to celebrate) · ko 식전 (ritual with religious significance) · sa विधि (ritual with religious significance) · kk рәсім (ritual with religious significance) · es ceremonia (official gathering to celebrate) · ast ceremonia (ritual with religious significance) · ar طُقُوس (ritual with religious significance) · ka ცერემონია (official gathering to celebrate) · mk церемонија (ritual with religious significance) · cy seremoni (official gathering to celebrate) · lt ceremonija (ritual with religious significance) · ml ചടങ്ങ് (ritual with religious significance) · it cerimonia (ritual with religious significance) · te వేడుక (official gathering to celebrate) · sk obrad (official gathering to celebrate) · el τελετή (official gathering to celebrate) · sh свѐчано̄ст (ritual with religious significance) · fi juhla (official gathering to celebrate) · mn ёслол (official gathering to celebrate) · ba йола (ritual with religious significance) · sq ceremoni (ritual with religious significance) · it cerimonia (official gathering to celebrate) · cy seremoni (ritual with religious significance) · sl obred (ritual with religious significance) · hi विधि (ritual with religious significance) · la caerimōnia (ritual with religious significance) · fi juhlallisuudet (official gathering to celebrate) · pt cerimônia (official gathering to celebrate) · ko 의식 (ritual with religious significance) · pt cerimónia (official gathering to celebrate) · ru обря́д (ritual with religious significance) · hi समारोह (official gathering to celebrate) · ru церемо́ния (official gathering to celebrate) · el τελετή (ritual with religious significance) · id seremoni (ritual with religious significance) · ja 儀礼 (formal socially-established behaviour) · tr kutlama (official gathering to celebrate) · ja 典礼 (official gathering to celebrate) · sh о̀бред (ritual with religious significance)