ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ceremony

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈsɛɹəˌmoʊni// UK //sˈɛɹɪməni// cer·e·mo·ny Archaic General-service

n. a formal event that people hold to celebrate a special occasion, like a wedding or a graduation. It usually involves traditional actions or speeches.

n. a formal religious or public occasion, typically one celebrating a particular event or anniversary. It often follows a prescribed set of rituals or traditional procedures.


SIMPLE

The wedding ceremony starts at two o'clock.

CONTEXTUAL

The university holds a graduation ceremony every summer to honor the students who finished their degrees.

COMPLEX

The coronation was a grand ceremony steeped in centuries of tradition, designed to reinforce the continuity of the state through symbolic gestures and ancient oaths.

Synonyms
Origin

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

Usage

Countable when referring to specific events; uncountable when referring to formal behavior or ritual in general ('performed with great ceremony').

Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference