ornamental
aw-nuh-MEHN-tuhl
Ornamental (adj) means serving as decoration rather than having any practical use. Example: “The fountain is purely ornamental.”
adj
1
Serving as decoration rather than having any practical use.
"The fountain is purely ornamental."
noun
1
A plant grown for its appearance rather than for food or other use.
"The garden is full of flowering ornamentals."
How to use ornamental
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDecorative rather than functional.
Common pairings
ornamental garden
purely ornamental
ornamental plants
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Word forms
- Plural
- ornamentals
- Comparative
- more ornamental
- Superlative
- most ornamental
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The fountain is purely _____.
Etymology
From ornament + -al.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for ornamental
mental
dental
rental
parental
Oriental
elemental
accidental
judgmental
incidental
monumental
regimental
incremental
See all rhymes for ornamental →
Frequently asked questions
What does “ornamental” mean?
The word “ornamental” means serving as decoration rather than having any practical use. In plain terms, decorative rather than functional.
How do you pronounce “ornamental”?
“Ornamental” is pronounced aw-nuh-MEHN-tuhl (/ˌɔɹ.nəˈmɛn.təl/ in IPA).
How do you use “ornamental” in a sentence?
Here is “ornamental” used in a sentence: “The fountain is purely ornamental.”
What part of speech is “ornamental”?
Depending on how it is used, “ornamental” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “ornamental” a common word?
“Ornamental” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “ornamental” have?
“Ornamental” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: serving as decoration rather than having any practical use.
