🇬🇧🇪🇸 ornamental - ornamental : English Lesson

Meaning of "ornamental" ("ornamental"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

If something is ornamental, it is made to look pretty rather than to do something useful. For example, an ornamental plant looks nice, but you can’t eat it. An ornamental sword is fancy, but you shouldn’t try to fight a dragon with it.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

I wore an ornamental belt today, which means it looks stylish but does absolutely nothing to hold up my pants.

The ornamental cookies on the table are fake, and I learned that the hard way.

The ornamental candles in our living room have never been lit, and I suspect they never will be.

Mom’s ornamental plates are so valuable that even looking at them feels risky.

My grandma’s ornamental pillows are so fancy that sitting on them feels like a crime.

A child watches Granny place an ornamental vase, an ornamental clock, and an ornamental lamp on a shelf. The child reaches for an ornamental spoon and is gently moved away. Granny laughs, keeps the ornamental bird on a high hook so it won't break, and hands the child a real, useful cup. The child sips, happy.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.