ceremonial
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.used in or related to a formal event like a wedding, funeral, or official meeting.
adj.relating to, consisting of, or used in a ceremony or ritual.
Simple“The soldiers wore their ceremonial uniforms for the king's parade.”
In context“The high priest performed the ceremonial washing of the altar before the festival began in earnest.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having a position or role that is for tradition or show, without any real power.
adj.occupying a position or performing a role that is purely symbolic or traditional, lacking actual authority or practical function.
Simple“The president has a ceremonial role, while the prime minister runs the country.”
In context“Although she held the ceremonial title of chairperson, she had no vote in the company's daily financial decisions.”
Antonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.the formal rules and actions used during a ceremony.
n.a ceremony or a series of ceremonies prescribed by ritual or social convention.
Simple“The religious ceremonial was strictly followed by every member of the church.”
In context“The court ceremonial was so complex that new ambassadors spent weeks studying the correct way to approach the throne.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general system of rules for an event.
“Weapons buried with ancient Egyptian princesses may have been more than ceremonial decorations.”
“Some were even bred for wool, while others played important spiritual or ceremonial roles.”
From Middle English cerymonial, from Latin caerimōniālis. Morphologically ceremony + -al or -ial.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.