Consisting of or relating to outward forms and rites; conformable to prescribed ceremony.Full of ceremony or formality; marked by solemnity of manner or method.According to prescribed or customary formalities or punctilios; characterized by more elaborate forms of politeness than are commonly used between intimate acquaintances; formal in manner or method: as, ceremonious phrases.Observant of conventional forms; fond of using ceremony; punctilious as to outward observances and ceremonies.Synonyms Ceremonious, Ceremonial, Formal. Ceremonious, full of ceremony, fond of ceremony; ceremonial, consisting in or having the nature of ceremony, or bearing upon ceremonies: as, ceremonious manners, persons; ceremonial law, rites, uncleanness. Formal differs from ceremonious in that a formal person tries too hard to conform to rule in his whole bearing as well as in his bearing toward others, while a ceremonious person magnifies too much the conventional rules of social intercourse; thus both are opposed to natural, formal to easy, and ceremonious to hearty or friendly.