# ornament

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɔː(ɹ)nəmənt/ · frequency rank #19,156

## Definitions
1. An element of decoration; that which embellishes or adorns.
2. An element of decoration; that which embellishes or adorns.
3. A musical flourish that is unnecessary to the overall melodic or harmonic line, but serves to decorate that line.
4. The articles used in church services.
5. A characteristic that has a decorative function (typically in order to attract a mate)

## Etymology
From Middle English ornament, from Old French ornement, from Latin ornamentum (“equipment, apparatus, furniture, trappings, adornment, embellishment”), from ornāre (“to equip, adorn”). The verb is derived from the noun.

## Easily confused with
- **ornamental** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ornament-vs-ornamental)
- **ointment** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ointment-vs-ornament)

## Common misspellings (12)
`onrament`, `oranment`, `ornaemnt`, `ornamennt`, `ornamentt`, `ornametn`, `ornamment`, `ornamnet`, `ornmaent`, `ornnament`, `orrnament`, `ronament`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ornament