Dictionary entries for 'ceremony'

Synonyms

cer·e·mo·ny (sĕŕə-mṓnē)

[Middle English ceremonie, from Latin caerimōnia, religious rite.]

noun: pl., -nies.

A formal act or set of acts performed as prescribed by ritual or custom: a wedding ceremony; the Japanese tea ceremony.
A conventional social gesture or act of courtesy: the ceremony of shaking hands when introduced.
A formal act without intrinsic purpose; an empty form: ignored the ceremony of asking for comments from other committee members.
Strict observance of formalities or etiquette: The head of state was welcomed with full ceremony.