or·na·men·tal
ˌȯr-nə-ˈmen-tᵊl 
: of, relating to, or serving as ornament
specifically
: grown as an ornamental
: a decorative object
especially
: a plant cultivated for its beauty rather than for use
Examples of ornamental in a Sentence
Adjective
The garden has many ornamental shrubs.
the trim on Victorian houses is sometimes elaborately ornamental
Noun
The garden has many beautiful ornamentals.
a collection of fragile ornamentals kept in a glass cabinet
Recent Examples on the Web
Ian Volner, Artforum, 28 May 2025
There’s also the Lark Manor platform bed with vintage ornamental details that also has space underneath for storing extra linens.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 22 May 2025
Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025
Companion plants for ornamentals such as hydrangeas are selected for aesthetic purposes.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ornamental
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Adjective
Those ornamental bas-reliefs are pricey to maintain.
—Ian Volner, Artforum, 28 May 2025
There’s also the Lark Manor platform bed with vintage ornamental details that also has space underneath for storing extra linens.
—Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 22 May 2025
Noun
Many deciduous ornamentals including redbuds, forsythia, crabapples, fruit trees, quince azaleas and many others were not adversely affected by last summer’s drought and the cold, windy winter and frozen soils that followed.
—Pamm Cooper, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2025
Companion plants for ornamentals such as hydrangeas are selected for aesthetic purposes.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ornamental
Cite this Entry
“Ornamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornamental. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ornamental
1 of 2 adjective
or·na·men·tal
ˌȯr-nə-ˈment-ᵊl
: of, relating to, or serving as ornament
ornamental
2 of 2 noun
: a decorative object
especially
: a plant cultivated for its beauty rather than for use
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