accessory

¹ac·ces·so·ry

noun \ik-ˈse-sə-rē, ak-, ek-, -ˈses-rē, also ə-ˈse-\

plural ac·ces·so·ries

Definition of ACCESSORY

1

a : a person not actually or constructively present but contributing as an assistant or instigator to the commission of an offense —called also accessory before the fact

b : a person who knowing that a crime has been committed aids or shelters the offender with intent to defeat justice —called also accessory after the fact

2

a : a thing of secondary or subordinate importance : adjunct

b : an object or device not essential in itself but adding to the beauty, convenience, or effectiveness of something else <auto accessories> <clothing accessories>

Variants of ACCESSORY

ac·ces·so·ry also ac·ces·sa·ry \ik-ˈse-sə-rē, ak-, ek-, -ˈses-rē, also ə-ˈse-\

Examples of ACCESSORY

1. fashion accessories such as scarves, handkerchiefs, bracelets, and rings
2. He is wanted as an accessory to murder.

First Known Use of ACCESSORY

15th century

Related to ACCESSORY

Synonyms

accoutrement (or accouterment), adapter (also adaptor), add-on, adjunct, appendage, appliance, attachment, option

Related Words

accompaniment, additive, complement, supplement; auxiliary, subsidiary; amenity, doodad, embroidery, extra, filler, frill, incidental, luxury, nonessential, nonnecessity; appurtenances, bells and whistles, equipment, furnishings, habiliment(s), paraphernalia, trappings; adornment, decoration, embellishment, enhancement, garnish, ornament, trim, trimming

Near Antonyms

essential, necessity, requirement, requisite

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

Rhymes with ACCESSORY

possessory

²accessory

adjective

Definition of ACCESSORY

1

: assisting as a subordinate; especially : contributing to a crime but not as the chief agent

2

: aiding or contributing in a secondary way : supplementary

3

: present in a minor amount and not essential as a constituent <an accessory mineral in a rock>

Examples of ACCESSORY

1. <most phone services offer accessory features such as call-waiting>

First Known Use of ACCESSORY

1607

Related to ACCESSORY

Synonyms

accessorial, auxiliary, appurtenant, peripheral, supplemental, supplementary

Antonyms

chief, main, principal

Related Words

backup, makeshift, substitute; added, additional, another, further; complementary, contributory; adjuvant, assistant, assisting, helping, supportive, tributary; secondary, subordinate, subservient, subsidiary; dispensable, excess, nonessential, superfluous, surplus, unessential

Near Antonyms

basic, fundamental, primary, prime; all-important, essential, imperative, indispensable, integral, necessary, needed, needful, required, requisite, vital