ornamental

[ awr-nuh-men-tl ]

adjective

1. used or grown for ornament:

   ornamental plants.

2. providing ornament, decorative.
3. of or relating to ornament.

noun

1. something ornamental; decoration; adornment.
2. a plant cultivated for decorative purposes.

ornamental

/ ˌɔːnəˈmɛntəl /

adjective

1. of value as an ornament; decorative
2. (of a plant) used to decorate houses, gardens, etc

noun

1. a plant cultivated for show or decoration

Derived Forms

• ˌornaˈmentally, adverb

Other Words From

• orna·men·tali·ty noun
• orna·mental·ly adverb
• nonor·na·mental adjective
• nonor·na·mental·ly adverb
• nonor·na·men·tali·ty noun
• over·orna·mental adjective
• over·orna·mental·ly adverb
• over·orna·men·tali·ty noun
• preor·na·mental adjective
• super·orna·mental adjective
• super·orna·mental·ly adverb
• unor·na·mental adjective
• unor·na·mental·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ornamental¹

First recorded in 1640–50; ornament + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Its ornamental shell is both a home and armor.

From Los Angeles Times

When a bolt of lightning struck one of the ornamental stone eagles atop the stadium, Gibson reportedly said, “It may have been an omen that times were changing.”

From Salon

For me at least, I grew up associating the image of painted, beautifully ornamental nails with a way to show people I had my life together.

From Salon

The eggs had been blown - or hollowed out - meaning they only had ornamental value.

From BBC

A pass to “the Mansion” was an entrée to the Playboy lifestyle, with its hubba-hubba mix of famous men and ornamental women, a place where the word “swinging” was used unironically.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• exquisite
• ornate
• showy