ceremonial mass
- noun
- /ˌsɛrəˈmoʊniəl mæs/
- Formal
- The archbishop led the ceremonial mass attended by hundreds of worshippers.
Examples
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The choir performed beautifully during the ceremonial mass on Christmas Eve.
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A special ceremonial mass was held to commemorate the anniversary of the cathedral.
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The church held a special ceremonial mass for the new year.
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Every Sunday, the parishioners attend the ceremonial mass together.
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The archbishop led the ceremonial mass attended by hundreds of worshippers.
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The choir performed beautifully during the ceremonial mass on Christmas Eve.
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A special ceremonial mass was held to commemorate the anniversary of the cathedral.
Synonyms
718
2.5
A formal event that follows traditional rules for a special occasion
506
1.0
A religious service for Christians
300
4.2
A religious meeting for public worship, often in a church
138
4.9
A Christian church service where people receive bread and wine to remember Jesus
117
6.3
A formal ceremony often held as part of a religious tradition
27
8.9
A planned public worship service with fixed prayers and actions
22
2.1
A meeting in a church where people pray, sing, and listen to a talk
11
4.7
A formal event to mark or honor a special day
9
2.9
A formal event where people meet to show shared beliefs with prayers and rituals
8
3.7
A public religious ceremony with formal rituals
7
2.8
A public event where people pray, sing, and listen in a church or temple
5
4.2
A ceremony with set actions from a religion like prayers and singing
2
4.1
A formal ceremony that people follow as part of a religion
1
8.9
A solemn Catholic church service with full ceremony, music, and incense
1
4.9
A formal gathering with planned rituals to mark an important event
1
4.5
A short religious meeting in a small church with prayers and songs
1
7.4
A public ceremony in a church where people pray and sing
1
7.2
A set way churches use for worship with prayers and hymns
1
9.9
A Catholic church service where people receive bread and wine
1
9.5
A formal public ceremony that makes a marriage or other rite official
1
9.9
A Christian ceremony where bread and wine are blessed and eaten to remember Jesus' Last Supper
How Solemn
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'ceremonial' (ritual, formal) with 'Mass' (a Christian Eucharistic service): the phrase simply denotes a Mass characterized by ritual and solemnity. This straightforward adjective+noun compositional pattern is non‑idiomatic and cross‑linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words should understand it.
Etymology
The phrase ceremonial mass comes from the two words ceremonial (a special ritual with candles, music and special clothes) and mass (the main church service). Picture a big, slow service with candles and people in special clothes; that's why it means 'a formal religious service'.