1a formal religious or public occasion, especially one celebrating a particular event, achievement, or anniversary:the winners were presented with their prizes at a special ceremonyan awards ceremony
an act or series of acts performed according to a traditional or prescribed form:we found a rabbi to perform the ceremony for us
2 [mass noun] the ritual observances and procedures required or performed at grand and formal occasions:the new Queen was proclaimed with due ceremony
formal polite behaviour:he showed them to their table with great ceremony
stand on ceremony
[usually with negative] insist on the observance of formalities:we don’t stand on ceremony in this house
without ceremony
without preamble or politeness:he was pushed without ceremony into the bathroom
