adornment

[uh-dawrn-muhnt]

noun

1. something that adds attractiveness; ornament; accessory.

   the adornments and furnishings of a room.

2. ornamentation; embellishment.

   personal adornment.

Other Word Forms

• nonadornment noun
• preadornment noun
• readornment noun
• self-adornment noun
• superadornment noun
• unadornment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of adornment¹

1470–80; adorn + -ment; replacing late Middle English aournement < Middle French

Example Sentences

A moment where Ruth sees a woman wearing a potato chip clip as a hair adornment captures that atmosphere.

From Los Angeles Times

Independent experts have said that they could find no real connection between gang membership and tattoos, a popular adornment for Venezuelans and nearly one-third of Americans.

From Salon

And then with the hair adornment, you have the alligator, you have honey bees.

From Los Angeles Times

Peak also explains that the silhouettes for most of the animals this week are plain black, "with no adornments or shading".

From BBC

Two bird adornments made to look like they're sipping from the fountain flit about her shoulders, really driving home her Disney princess status.

From Salon

Related Words

• embellishment 
• ornamentation