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ceremonious — relating to or marked by ceremony; excessively formal or polite in manner

Part of speech: ADJECTIVE

Definition: relating to or marked by ceremony; excessively formal or polite in manner

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌserəˈmoʊniəs/

Example Sentences

  • The butler's ceremonious way of serving tea made a simple snack feel like a royal banquet.
  • His ceremonious apology included three different types of bows and a written letter.
  • The ceremonious handshake lasted so long that people started taking photos of it.

ceremonious

ADJECTIVE

[/ˌserəˈmoʊniəs/]

relating to or marked by ceremony; excessively formal or polite in manner

a white-gloved butler performs an extremely elaborate bow with multiple flourishes before serving a simple glass of water. He extends his arms in grand sweeping motions and bends so deeply that his movements seem theatrical and over-the-top. The dinner guests at the elegant table watch with slightly uncomfortable expressions as this simple task becomes an elaborate performance. Other staff members in the background also move with exaggerated formality, turning every small action into a dramatic ritual. behavior that is excessively formal and marked by unnecessary ceremony
💡 Concept

a white-gloved butler performs an extremely elaborate bow with multiple flourishes before serving a simple glass of water. He extends his arms in grand sweeping motions and bends so deeply that his movements seem theatrical and over-the-top. The dinner guests at the elegant table watch with slightly uncomfortable expressions as this simple task becomes an elaborate performance. Other staff members in the background also move with exaggerated formality, turning every small action into a dramatic ritual. behavior that is excessively formal and marked by unnecessary ceremony

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˌserəˈmoʊniəs/
🇬🇧 UK/ˌserɪˈməʊniəs/

🌳Etymology

Rootceremon
Suffix--ious

Origin

From Latin 'ceremoniosus', derived from 'ceremonia' meaning religious rite or sacred ceremony. The word developed in ancient Roman culture where formal rituals and elaborate protocols were deeply valued in both religious and social contexts.

Breakdown

ceremoni- (formal ritual, ceremony) + -ous (adjective suffix meaning 'full of' or 'characterized by')

🎵Rhyme

harmoniousparsimoniousacrimonious
harmonious
parsimonious
acrimonious

🔗Collocations

ceremonious manner
ceremonious greeting
ceremonious politeness
ceremonious bow
ceremonious reception
overly ceremonious

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“The butler's ceremonious way of serving tea made a simple snack feel like a royal banquet.”

“His ceremonious apology included three different types of bows and a written letter.”

😄 Fun example

“The ceremonious handshake lasted so long that people started taking photos of it.”

“The ambassador's ceremonious speech followed diplomatic protocol perfectly.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

formalritualisticelaboratedignifiedstately

Antonyms

informalcasualsimple

Related

ceremonyprotocoletiquetteritualformality

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