Definition of "ceremony" []

• A formal act or set of acts performed as prescribed by ritual or custom: a wedding ceremony; the Japanese tea ceremony. (noun)
• A conventional social gesture or act of courtesy: the ceremony of shaking hands when introduced. (noun)
• A formal act without intrinsic purpose; an empty form: ignored the ceremony of asking for comments from other committee members. (noun)
• Strict observance of formalities or etiquette: The head of state was welcomed with full ceremony. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "And the issue of bible vs koran for a swearing in ceremony is totally dumb."
• "Such vain ceremony is a thin disguise of rebellion, nor are there perhaps any personal wrongs that can authorize a subject to take arms against his sovereign: but the want of preparation and success may confirm the assurance of the usurper, that this decisive step was the effect of necessity rather than of choice."
• "The conch shell lets out a last bellowing call and warns any remaining straggler that the ceremony is about to begin."