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.
Tucked in between Palm Beach's elaborate, ornate mansions, The Brazilian Court Hotel has been a discrete retreat since the 1920s. Gaby Keiderling, Vogue, 14 Apr. 2025 Established well over a century ago, this public park allows visitors to marvel at a wealth of ornate statues crafted by Galician artists, while budding botanists can bask in the beauty of its many ornamental plant species. Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025 The ornate design will look great will all your suitcase mainstays, plus shoppers have their choice of seven springy shades, from red to sage green. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2025 Along with a few priests and professors, Marchetti joined King Charles to explore ornate mosaics from the 5th and 6th centuries and hear about the rich history. Alina Trabattoni, People.com, 11 Apr. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Ornate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornate. Accessed 19 Apr. 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

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