embellishment

noun

em·​bel·​lish·​ment im-ˈbe-lish-mənt 

1

: the act or process of embellishing

2

: something serving to embellish

3

: ornament sense 5

Synonyms

• adornment
• beautifier
• caparison
• decoration
• doodad
• embellisher
• frill
• garnish
• garnishment
• garniture
• ornament
• ornamentation
• setoff
• trim

Examples of embellishment in a Sentence

a colorful mobile is just the embellishment that the soon-to-be nursery needs

the actor's penchant for embellishment suggests that his memoirs would be more appropriately shelved in the fiction section

Recent Examples on the Web

From the 2025 Met Gala Last Night By Christian Allaire Living An Exclusive Look Inside the 2025 Met Gala Palmer was keen on honoring Wang’s house codes in her sartorial homage to Dandridge, allowing the two to land on a feminine interpretation of men’s suiting—with embellishments galore. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 7 May 2025

The mermaid-style dress featured puff sleeves and 2,000 pearl embellishments detailing around the bodice and bottom of the dress. —Raven Brunner, People.com, 6 May 2025

Her custom Couture look centres on the sports robe, reimagined with the precision and structure of tailoring, bonded with a weather-proof membrane, embellishment, and drama that brings further texture and movement. —Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 5 May 2025

Such as Joey King, who wore a loose-fitting green set adorned with diamond embellishments. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 5 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1