ornate

ornate — adjective

1. decorated with many small details, often in a rich or showy style.

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

decorated with many small details, often in a rich or showy style.

Example

The hotel lobby had ornate gold mirrors and painted ceiling panels.

before noun: ornate mirrors / ornate ceiling

An ornate wooden gate stood at the entrance to the old temple.

Common collocations
  • ornate ceiling
  • ornate frame
  • ornate gate
  • ornate fountain
  • ornate design
  • ornate details
Synonyms
  • elaborate

    broader word that can also describe plans, systems, or ceremonies.

  • decorative

    focuses on making something look pretty, not necessarily heavily detailed.

  • fancy

    more everyday and can suggest showy taste.

  • ornamental

    often means made mainly to decorate rather than to be useful.

Antonyms
  • plain

    without extra decoration or detail.

  • simple

    emphasizes a clean design with few parts.

  • unadorned

    formal word for something left without decoration.

Grammar Patterns

ornate building

ornate frame

ornate ceiling

look ornate

Usage Note

Mostly used for visible design on buildings, furniture, clothes, and objects. It often suggests beauty, but it can also hint that the decoration feels a bit too much.

Common Mistakes

The room was ornate with books and bags.
The room was full of books and bags.' / 'The room had ornate furniture.
'ornate' describes decorative detail, not simply having many things inside.

2. using extra long or difficult words, instead of saying something in a simple way

2.adjectiveC2
Definition

using extra long or difficult words, instead of saying something in a simple way.

Example

The speech sounded ornate, so the children missed the main point.

linking verb: sound ornate

Her ornate thank-you email about a small refund sounded oddly formal.

before noun: ornate email

Common collocations
  • ornate language
  • ornate style
  • ornate prose
  • ornate phrases
  • ornate speech
Synonyms
  • flowery

    common critical word for language that has too many decorative expressions.

  • florid

    more formal and often strongly negative.

  • elaborate

    can describe style that is detailed, though it is not always excessive.

  • grandiloquent

    very formal and stronger, especially for speech that sounds overly important.

Antonyms
  • plain

    using direct, simple wording.

  • direct

    goes straight to the message without extra decoration.

  • clear

    easy to understand and free of unnecessary style.

Grammar Patterns

ornate language

ornate style

ornate prose

sound ornate

Usage Note

Usually used for writing, speeches, and style, often with a critical tone. Distinguish from adjective/1: this sense is about word choice, not physical decoration.

Common Mistakes

The teacher used ornate English, so the class understood easily.
The teacher used plain English, so the class understood easily.
'ornate' suggests language that is over-decorated and often harder to follow.

Word family

  • ornament
    nounB2
  • ornamental
    adjectiveC1
  • ornately
    adverbC2
  • ornamentation
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Ornate' suggests heavy decoration with many small details, patterns, or carved parts. 'Elaborate' is broader: it can describe decoration, but also plans, ceremonies, or systems with many parts. 'Decorative' is weaker and more neutral, simply saying that something is meant to look attractive. 'Fancy' is an everyday word and often adds the idea of showiness or expense rather than careful detail. 'Baroque' is much more specific and formal, often linked to art, music, or a style that feels highly complex. An ornate mirror frame may have gold leaves and curls, while a decorative bowl can be simple but pretty, and a fancy hotel room may feel expensive without being ornate.

ornate ↗elaborate ↗decorative ↗fancy ↗baroque

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • highly ornate
  • too ornate

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Ornate came into English through French from Latin ornatus, a form of ornare, meaning 'decorate' or 'equip'. English kept the idea of adding rich detail, first for things with heavy decoration and later for writing or speech that seems decorated with extra words.