ornamental

Word relationships

• decorative: Decorative is a broad term for anything that adorns, while ornamental often implies a more formal, elaborate, or non-functional addition.
• embellishing: Embellishing refers to the act of adding extra details to make something more attractive, often used for stories as well as objects.

• functional: Functional means designed to be practical and useful rather than attractive.
• utilitarian: Utilitarian means designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive; strictly functional.

Commonly confused with

• instrumental: Instrumental means serving as a means of pursuing an aim, whereas ornamental means serving purely as decoration.

Word family

• ornament (noun): A thing used to make something look more attractive.
• ornamentation (noun): Things added to something to provide decoration.

Collocations

• ornamental gardens
• ornamental features
• purely ornamental
• ornamental plants

Example sentences

• "The landscape architect added several ornamental cherry trees that were prized for their spring blossoms rather than their fruit." Describing garden design
• "The building's facade was covered in ornamental plasterwork depicting vines and flowers." Describing historical architecture

Memory hook

Think of an 'ornament' on a Christmas tree—it is purely 'ornamental' because it has no job other than looking pretty. Ornamental is purely decorative.

When not to use

Do not use 'ornamental' for things that are primarily functional, even if they are beautiful. A beautifully designed chair you sit on is elegant; a tiny porcelain chair on a shelf is ornamental.

Fun facts

• In classical music, 'ornaments' are musical flourishes—like trills or grace notes—that are not essential to the main melody but serve to decorate it.

Related words

picturesque, elegant, aesthetic

Explore more words

trinket, picturesque, ritualistic, pageantry, scenic, archaic