ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt 

1

: marked by elaborate rhetoric (see rhetoric sense 2b) or florid (see florid sense 1a) style

is clear and simple rather than ornate and pompous

—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

2

: elaborately or excessively decorated

an ornate mantle

an ornate townhouse

ornate chandeliers

ornately adverb

ornateness noun

Synonyms

• bedizened
• florid
• fussy
• gingerbread
• gingerbreaded
• gingerbready
• overdecorated
• overwrought

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

Dallas’ Highland Park Village, which has an open-air setting, features Spanish architecture accented by red tile roofs, sweeping door arches and an ornate foundation. —Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 10 Dec. 2024

Varying from Regency, Rococo focuses on ornate decor patterns and a sense of lightness. —Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Dec. 2024

For the big day, Genie Francis, who played Laura, wore an ornate head piece paired with an oh-so-very '80s gown complete with lace detailing and puffy sleeves. —Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 8 Dec. 2024

There, ornate teapots are filled with hot chocolate and served alongside gourmet toppings. —Nerdwallet, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2024

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

Kids Definition

ornate

adjective

or·​nate ȯr-ˈnāt 

: decorated in a fancy way

ornately adverb

ornateness noun