coronate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Very LowFormal, Literary, Archaic, Technical (biological sciences)
Quick answer
What does “coronate” mean?
To crown.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To crown; to invest with regal authority, formally place a crown upon.
1. (Rare) To surround like a crown, encircle. 2. (Zoology, Botany) Having a crown or corona-like structure. 3. (During COVID-19) A jocular non-standard formation meaning 'to be infected with coronavirus' (note: This is slang/informal and not standard English).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage exists. Both varieties treat it as a rare, formal/technical word.
Connotations
Conveys a sense of antiquity, formality, or technical precision.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects, with a slight potential for more frequent occurrence in UK historical texts due to the monarchy.
Grammar
How to Use “coronate” in a Sentence
[Subject] coronated [Object] (archaic)[Subject] is coronated (passive, archaic)coronate jellyfish/snail (adjective usage)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coronate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The Archbishop of Canterbury will coronate the new sovereign in a solemn ceremony.
- Ancient chronicles detail how they coronated their rulers in the temple.
American English
- The presiding official coronated the emperor with great pomp.
- Few remember the precise ritual used to coronate the early pharaohs.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. No standard adverbial form.
American English
- Not applicable. No standard adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- The diver observed a coronate jellyfish pulsating in the deep water.
- The fossil showed a distinct, coronate structure around its aperture.
American English
- Marine biologists studied the feeding habits of the coronate scyphozoan.
- The specimen was identified by its coronate, ringed appearance.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical studies (e.g., 'the archbishop coronated the king') and biological taxonomy (e.g., 'coronate medusae').
Everyday
Virtually never used. If encountered, likely in error for 'crown' or in pandemic-era slang.
Technical
Primary modern context: zoology and botany as a descriptive adjective (e.g., 'the coronate process of the shell').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coronate”
- Using 'coronate' in modern contexts where 'crown' is correct (e.g., 'The king will be coronated' is non-standard/archaic; prefer 'crowned').
- Confusing it with 'coronation' (the event/noun). 'Coronate' is the verb; 'coronation' is the noun.
- Using the pandemic slang ('I got coronated') in formal writing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in its primary historical sense, but 'crown' is the standard modern verb. 'Coronate' is archaic and very formal.
No. While a slang/informal usage ('to get coronated') emerged during the pandemic, it is not standard English and should be avoided in formal communication.
You are most likely to see it as an adjective in scientific texts (biology, zoology) describing organisms with a crown-like feature, or in historical novels/academic writing about monarchies.
The standard noun is 'coronation' (the ceremony of crowning). 'Coronate' itself is not used as a noun.
To crown.
Coronate is usually formal, literary, archaic, technical (biological sciences) in register.
Coronate: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒrəneɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːrəneɪt/ , /ˈkɑːrəneɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this rare word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CORONATE contains CORONA (Latin for crown) + ATE (a verb ending). Think: 'To CORONA-te someone is to give them a crown.'
Conceptual Metaphor
AUTHORITY IS A CROWN (to coronate is to bestow ultimate authority).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common modern use of 'coronate'?