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

Javi said he’d affixed ornamental amphoras and delicate clay stars beneath a sweeping arch.

From BBC

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

And that includes a large infestation of Asian tiger mosquitoes in 2001 that came over with an ornamental bamboo shipment imported from China.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• exquisite
• ornate
• showy