ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt How to pronounce ornate (audio)
1
: marked by elaborate rhetoric (see rhetoric sense 2b) or florid (see florid sense 1a) style
is clear and simple rather than ornate and pompousThe Times Literary Supplement (London)
2
: elaborately or excessively decorated
an ornate mantle
an ornate townhouse
ornate chandeliers
ornately adverb
ornateness noun

Examples of ornate in a Sentence

She doesn't like ornate jewelry. an ornate gambling casino that is designed to look like an Italian palace
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.
Ghosh’s one-to-two-word lines, thick with luscious ls and ws, are at once ornate arrangements and liquid mouthfuls. Christopher Spaide august 1, Literary Hub, 1 Aug. 2025 The walls are chockablock with paintings of former presidents in heavily ornate gold frames. Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2025 The main draw was engaging with the celebrities while Carpenter took photos on an ornate throne and spent time with each guest. Justin Conklin, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025 Renowned for its ornate Rococo interior, the library’s colorful gallery is marked with statues and artworks of mythological and biblical figures. Kaela Ling, CNBC, 31 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for ornate

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ornat, from Latin ornatus, past participle of ornare to furnish, embellish; akin to Latin ordo order — more at order

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ornate was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ornate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornate. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

ornate

adjective
or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt How to pronounce ornate (audio)
: decorated in a fancy way
ornately adverb
ornateness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ornate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!