ornamentation

noun

or·​na·​men·​ta·​tion ˌȯr-nə-mən-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce ornamentation (audio)
-ˌmen-
Synonyms of ornamentationnext
1
: something that ornaments : embellishment
2
: the act or process of ornamenting : the state of being ornamented

Examples of ornamentation in a Sentence

A bright ribbon was used for ornamentation. a ballroom with elaborate ornamentation
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His photographs vibrate with the excess of their ornamentation, with an audacity of presence that exceeds the realm of the emblematic. Zoë Hopkins, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026 Its tapered legs and subtle ornamentation give it an old world quality that still looks right at home in a contemporary designscape. Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 5 Feb. 2026 The elaborate beading ornamentation is a tribal tradition, now in decline as Westernization takes its toll on tribal communities who live in the vicinity of ever-expanding urban areas. Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026 Buried amidst the ornamentation is a tiny frog on a skull that students look to for good luck. Rick Steves, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ornamentation

Word History

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ornamentation was in 1706

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Cite this Entry

“Ornamentation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornamentation. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.

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