noun
ceremony
SAIR-uh-moh-nee/ˈserəməʊni/
A formal event or set of actions marking an occasion or showing respect.
The graduates gather in the hall for the award ceremony.
Etymology
Latin caerimonia denoted a sacred or reverent rite, though its deeper origin is obscure. English extended this religious idea to formal observances governed by established custom.
In context
this ceremony marking the formal turning over of the first German mountain division to NATO
More examples
- A brief ceremony marks the opening of the bridge.
- They exchange rings during the wedding ceremony.
- The ambassador greets the visitors with appropriate ceremony.
Forms
ceremony · ceremonies
Similar words
- ritual
- A prescribed sequence that may recur outside a single formal event.
- celebration
- Emphasizes honoring an occasion, often joyfully rather than formally.