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
Synonyms
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
Sean Clancy, arkansasonline.com, 26 Sep. 2024
Purple ornamental cotton plants thrive in hotter climates.
—Claire Hoppe, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2024
Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Sep. 2024
However, with such a large group, almost any plant can be attacked, from houseplants to outdoor ornamentals.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ornamental 
Adjective
The newest exhibit at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts promises to be a wonderland for lovers of the ornamental style of Art Nouveau.
—Sean Clancy, arkansasonline.com, 26 Sep. 2024
Purple ornamental cotton plants thrive in hotter climates.
—Claire Hoppe, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2024
Noun
The three most common types of eucalyptus were brought there because people wanted them for either ornamentals or for timber trees.
—Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Sep. 2024
However, with such a large group, almost any plant can be attacked, from houseplants to outdoor ornamentals.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ornamental
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ornamental.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ornamental
Cite this Entry
“Ornamental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ornamental. Accessed 1 Oct. 2024.
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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