What does ceremonial mean?
Word: Ceremonial
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: used for or belonging to an important public occasion with set customs.
How do you spell ceremonial?
Syllables: cer - e - mo - ni - al
Tricky part: Pupils often leave out the i before the final al and write ceremonal.
Watch out for: ceremonal, ceremonail
Memory tip: Picture that i as a tall flagpole standing just ahead of the final al.
Ceremonial in a sentence
Example 1: The band wore ceremonial uniforms at the Republic Day parade.
Example 2: Cutting the ribbon was a ceremonial start to the new library.
Example 3: Grandfather keeps his ceremonial silk shawl in a wooden box.
Fun Fact
The President of India is often described as a ceremonial head of state, because most day-to-day decisions rest with the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the misspelt word in the sentence:
On Annual Day, the headmistress wore a cerimonial gown, and the senior prefects walked behind her through the main hall while the school band played the opening march.
a) headmistress
b) prefects
c) opening
d) cerimonial
Show answer
d) cerimonial. The vowel after the r is the same one that follows the c.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word ceremonial as used in the sentence:
The city's mayor wore a ceremonial chain at the opening of the new bridge.
a) formal
b) stately
c) grand
d) casual
Show answer
d) casual. Casual means relaxed and everyday; formal, stately and grand all share the dignified feel of the word here.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The evening ended with a camnreelio lowering of the flag.
a) ceremonial
b) commercial
c) memorial
d) cerebral
Show answer
a) ceremonial. Only ceremonial has the two e's with no b.
Word Makeup
Which of these words can add ly to form an adverb? Only one can.
ly
a) rainbow
b) carpet
c) ceremonial
d) museum
Show answer
c) ceremonial. Add ly to ceremonial and you get an adverb; museum, carpet and rainbow have no such form.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is most likely a ceremonial object?
a) a steel key for the kitchen door
b) a spare key kept under a flowerpot
c) a silver key presented to a visiting leader
d) a small key for a bicycle lock
Show answer
c) a silver key presented to a visiting leader
2. Why might a college still use a ceremonial gown on graduation day?
a) to save the cost of new uniforms
b) to help the staff carry their books
c) to keep the students warm in the hall
d) to mark the importance of the occasion
Show answer
d) to mark the importance of the occasion
