or·na·ment
ˈȯr-nə-mənt 
plural ornaments
1
archaic
: a useful accessory
2
a
: something that lends grace, beauty, or festivity
holiday ornaments
b
: a manner or quality that adorns
3
: one whose virtues or graces add luster to a place or society
4
: the act of adorning or being adorned
5
: an embellishing note not belonging to the essential harmony or melody
called also embellishment, fioritura
Synonyms
Examples of ornament in a Sentence
Noun
She wore a hair ornament.
The columns are there purely as ornament—they have no structural function.
Verb
flower patterns used to ornament boxes
delicate crystal figurines ornament the mantel over the fireplace
Recent Examples on the Web
Chloe Castleberry, StyleCaster, 5 Nov. 2024
The in-house Wondershop brand offers cohesive accessories, so your home can have coordinated, cozy cheer — including trees, garlands, ornaments, toppers, and tree skirts.
—Olivia Avitt, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2024
The restaurant has moved a few blocks north, for one, and Solondz’s hair is now gray and Seussian in light wisps, his large features ornamented by bright-blue circular glasses.
—Elena Saavedra Buckley, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ornament 
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Noun
Best Gift for Moms Lismore Christmas Bauble Ornament $200.00 Buy Now
Lismore, the most iconic and distinguished of the Waterford patterns, is carefully cut into this crystal bauble ornament.
—Chloe Castleberry, StyleCaster, 5 Nov. 2024
The in-house Wondershop brand offers cohesive accessories, so your home can have coordinated, cozy cheer — including trees, garlands, ornaments, toppers, and tree skirts.
—Olivia Avitt, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
The style became necessarily less lavish and ornamented following the Great Depression and stayed popular through the 1930s, but World War II and then emergence of modern styles like midcentury pushed Art Deco out of favor.
—Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Sep. 2024
The restaurant has moved a few blocks north, for one, and Solondz’s hair is now gray and Seussian in light wisps, his large features ornamented by bright-blue circular glasses.
—Elena Saavedra Buckley, The New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ornament
Dictionary Entries Near ornament
Cite this Entry
“Ornament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornament. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ornament
1 of 2 noun
or·na·ment
ˈȯr-nə-mənt
1
: something that adds beauty : decoration
2
: addition of something that beautifies
a satin bow applied for ornament
ornament
2 of 2 verb
or·na·ment
ˈȯr-nə-ˌment
: to provide with ornament : adorn
ornamentation
noun
ˌȯr-nə-mən-ˈtā-shən
-ˌmen-
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