jewelry

noun

jew·​el·​ry ˈjü-əl-rē 

ˈjül-rē,

ˈju̇l-;

 nonstandard  ˈjü-lə-rē

variants US jewelry or chiefly British jewellery

: ornamental pieces (such as rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets) that are made of materials which may or may not be precious (such as gold, silver, glass, and plastic), are often set with genuine or imitation gems, and are worn for personal adornment

a collection of valuable jewelry

a jewelry store

see also costume jewelry

Did you know?

Objects designed for the adornment of the body are called jewelry. While modern jewelry is made of gold, silver, or platinum, often with precious or semiprecious stones, it evolved from shells, animal teeth, and other items used as body decoration in prehistoric times. Over the centuries it came to be a sign of social or religious rank, and in Renaissance Italy, jewelry-making reached the status of a fine art. By the 19th century, industrialization brought jewelry within the reach of the middle class. Firms opened by such jewelers as Carl Fabergé and Louis Comfort Tiffany achieved great success by making fine jewelry for the wealthy.

Examples of jewelry in a Sentence

a store that sells jewelry

Recent Examples on the Web

Its design was inspired by metal jewelry pieces, according to the brand, and is an homage to 1950s decor trends. —Lauren Fischer, People.com, 25 June 2025

As for her jewelry, Johansson opted for statement silver earrings and a few delicate pieces to accessorize her attire. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 25 June 2025

While the exact cost of the diamond is unknown, jewelry expert Briony Raymond estimated that the price of Lauren Sánchez’s engagement ring could range between $3 million and $5 million. —Vogue, 25 June 2025

Then came Very Cavallari, another spinoff that honed in on her life in Nashville, her Uncommon James jewelry brand, and her relationship with her now ex-husband Jay Cutler. —Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 25 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

see jewel entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1624, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing jewelry

• costume jewelry

Kids Definition

jewelry

noun

jew·​el·​ry ˈjü-əl-rē 

ˈjül-rē

: ornamental pieces (as rings and necklaces) worn on the person : jewels