- a formal act or ritual, often set by custom or tradition, performed in observation of an event or anniversary
- a religious rite or series of rites
- a courteous gesture or act: the ceremony of toasting the Queen
- ceremonial observances or gestures collectively
- stand on ceremony ⇒ to insist on or act with excessive formality
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
cer•e•mo•ny /ˈsɛrəˌmoʊni/USA pronunciation
n., pl. -nies.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the formal activities conducted on some solemn or important occasion:[countable]the marriage ceremony.
- [uncountable] all the actions, words, or formal behavior on such an occasion: We wanted a simple wedding, without a lot of ceremony.
- [uncountable] any formal act, esp. a meaningless one: His bow was mere ceremony.
- [uncountable] a gesture or act of politeness or civility: the ceremony of a handshake.
- Idioms stand on ceremony, to behave in a formal or ceremonious manner:We're friends, so there's no need to stand on ceremony.
- without ceremony, [uncountable] quickly and informally;
without fuss:accepted the honor without ceremony.
cer•e•mo•ny
(ser′ə mō′nē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -nies.
- the formal activities conducted on some solemn or important public or state occasion:the coronation ceremony.
- a formal religious or sacred observance;
a solemn rite:a marriage ceremony. - formal observances or gestures collectively;
ceremonial observances:The breathless messenger had no time for ceremony. - any formal act or observance, esp. a meaningless one:His low bow was mere ceremony.
- a gesture or act of politeness or civility:the ceremony of a handshake.
- strict adherence to conventional forms;
formality:to leave a room without ceremony. - Idioms stand on ceremony, to behave in a formal or ceremonious manner.
- Latin, as above
- Middle French cerimonie
- Medieval Latin cēremōnia, Latin caerimōnia sacred rite; replacing Middle English cerymonye
- Middle English ceremonie 1350–1400
- 1. 2. Ceremony, rite, ritual refer to set observances and acts traditional in religious services or on public occasions. Ceremony applies to more or less formal dignified acts on religious or public occasions:a marriage ceremony; an inaugural ceremony.A rite is an established, prescribed, or customary form of religious or other solemn practice:the rite of baptism.Ritual refers to the form of conducting worship or to a code of ceremonies in general:Masonic rituals.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
ceremony /ˈsɛrɪmənɪ/ n ( pl -nies)
'wedding ceremony' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):