frippery

noun

frip·​pery ˈfri-p(ə-)rē 

plural fripperies

1

obsolete

a

: cast-off clothes

b

archaic : a place where old clothes are sold

2

a

: finery

also : an elegant or showy garment

b

: something showy, frivolous, or nonessential

c

: ostentation

especially : something foolish or affectedly elegant

Synonyms

• array
• best
• bravery
• caparison
• feather
• finery
• full dress
• gaiety
• gayety
• glad rags
• regalia

Examples of frippery in a Sentence

The design is simple and devoid of needless frippery.

dressed in their most elegant frippery for the big gala at the symphony

Recent Examples on the Web

The British actor, almost as a counterpoint to the Nantucket frippery on display in the adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand’s chart-topping beach read, can now be found on the stage of the prestigious Almeida Theatre in Islington, North London. —Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 1 Oct. 2024

None of the 95 rooms at this palatial property, which first opened in the 1860s, is the same, and the decor is an eccentric mishmash that combines every era since then, from Victorian fripperies to sinuously streamlined Art Nouveau. —Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 10 July 2024

Again, this could be all down to the writing, to the show’s expanding storylines and self-conscious frippery. —Aja Romano, Vox, 21 May 2024

Forget five-star fripperies like the big TV, the room service menu, the chocolate on the pillow - though a coffee machine and a bottle of Asturian wine would certainly be nice. —Paul Richardson, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French friperie, alteration of Old French freperie, from frepe old garment

First Known Use

1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

frippery

noun

frip·​pery ˈfrip-(ə-)rē 

plural fripperies

1

: showy or elegant clothing

2

: something that is not necessary, not serious, or not important