ornamental

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌɔɹ.nəˈmɛn.təl/ UK /ˌɔː.nəˈmɛn.təl/ See IPA manual

Freq #40654

Meanings

1

adj
Used for decoration rather than for any practical purpose.

The garden has an ornamental pond surrounded by stone statues.
2

noun
A plant grown for its beauty rather than for food.

Roses and tulips are popular ornamentals in English gardens.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · used for decoration rather... decorativeembellishing

Word family

Forms ornamentallyornamentals

Derived forms nonornamentalornamentalismornamentalistornamentalityornamentalizeornamentalnessunornamental

Related forms ornamentallyornamentation

Etymology

From ornament + -al.

Topics

Describing Qualities Architecture & Buildings Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# ornamental

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌɔɹ.nəˈmɛn.təl/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌɔː.nəˈmɛn.təl/
**Frequency rank:** 40654

## Meanings
1. Used for decoration rather than for any practical purpose.
2. A plant grown for its beauty rather than for food.

## Examples
- The garden has an ornamental pond surrounded by stone statues.
- Roses and tulips are popular ornamentals in English gardens.

## Derived Forms
- nonornamental
- ornamentalism
- ornamentalist
- ornamentality
- ornamentalize
- ornamentalness
- unornamental

## Related Forms
- ornamentally
- ornamentation

## Etymology
From ornament + -al.

## AI Etymology
Ornamental is from ornament + -al. In present-day use, it can mean used for decoration rather than for any practical purpose, or a plant grown for its beauty rather than for food. Derived formations include nonornamental, ornamentalism, ornamentalist, ornamentality, ornamentalize. Related words include ornamentally, ornamentation.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Architecture & Buildings
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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