Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ceremonial

/ˌsɛɹɪˈmoʊniəl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.49 in modern English

Syllables: cer-e-mo-ni-al
IPA: /ˌsɛɹɪˈmoʊniəl/

14

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

5

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Of, relating to, consisting of, or used in a ceremony.

adj

Used only for the purpose of ceremony; symbolic.

adj

Synonym of ceremonious (“of a person: fond of ceremony or ritual, or of observing strict etiquette or formality; punctilious”).

Obsolete

noun

A ceremony, or series of ceremonies, prescribed by ritual.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"What mockery will it be / To want the bridegroom when the priest attends / To speak the ceremonial rites of marriage!"
"His merit introduced him to ſplendid tables and elegant acquaintance, but he did not find himſelf alvvays qualified to join in the converſation. He vvas diſtreſſed by civilities, vvhich he knevv not hovv to repay, and entangled in many ceremonial perplexities, from vvhich his books and diagrams could not extricate him."
"[T]his change in ceremonial observances and outward show was trifling when compared to that in the objects of worship […]"
"Philomena Guinea's black Cadillac eased through the tight, five o'clock traffic like a ceremonial car."
"“You must swear it. By Adamcos,” said Catweazle, drawing his ceremonial knife. “Crumbs! What's that?” asked Carrot, very taken with the knife."
"Oh monstrous, superstitious puritan, / Of refin’d manners, yet ceremoniall man, […]"

Etymology

From Middle English cerymonial, from Latin caerimōniālis. Morphologically ceremony + -al or -ial.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: cerymonial, caerimōniālis
Suffix: ceremony

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌsɛɹɪˈmoʊniəl/
British English: /ˌsɛɹɪˈməʊnɪ.əl/

Usage

Inflected Forms

more ceremonial (comparative) most ceremonial (superlative) cæremonial (alternative) ceremonials (plural)

Derived Forms

anticeremonial ceremonialise ceremonialism ceremonialist ceremonially ceremonialness nonceremonial preceremonial semiceremonial unceremonial

Phrases

ceremonial county ceremonial first pitch ceremonial marriage

Synonyms

ceremonious formal ritual ritualistic nominal ceremony ceremonial occasion observance

Rhymes With

colonial testimonial matrimonial baronial patrimonial neocolonial coronial unceremonial

Questions

How do you pronounce ceremonial?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌsɛɹɪˈmoʊniəl/.
What does ceremonial mean?: Of, relating to, consisting of, or used in a ceremony.
Where does ceremonial come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce ceremonial

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ceremonial”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌsɛɹɪˈmoʊniəl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “ceremonial”.
Repeat and practice — Say “ceremonial” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.