appliqué

1 of 2

noun

ap·​pli·​qué ˌa-plə-ˈkā 

: a cutout decoration fastened to a larger piece of material

appliqué

2 of 2

verb

appliquéd; appliquéing

transitive verb

: to apply (something, such as a decoration or ornament) to a larger surface : overlay

Examples of appliqué in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The floor-length number was designed with a plunging V-neck, adorned with sparkling floral appliques. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026

For her trip down the aisle, Wilson wore a custom Oscar de La Renta gown, which was adorned with tiny Japanese cherry blossom appliques around the halter-style neckline and scattered throughout the dress. — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026

Verb

Another standout was a cornflower blue skirt, appliqued with little figures of Romeo and Juliet and intricate trailing roses, which was gifted to the Queen on her visit to Ottawa, Canada, in 1951. — Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026

Haehlen, who has Down syndrome, smiles wide and twirls her skirt, revealing how intricately it’s appliqued with sequined, floral explosions of color. — Tony Bravo, San Francisco Chronicle, 5 Apr. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from French, past participle of appliquer "to put on, apply," going back to Old French apliquier "to put to use, utilize in a certain way," borrowed from Latin applicāre "to bring into contact (with), situate near, bring to bear (on), make applicable or relevant (to)" — more at apply

Note: French appliqué is apparently not recorded with the specific sense of the English word in the eighteenth or nineteenth century; see discussion s.v. in the Oxford English Dictionary, third edition.

Verb

derivative of appliqué entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1763, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1864, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

appliqué

1 of 2 noun

ap·​pli·​qué ˌap-lə-ˈkā 

: a cutout decoration fastened to a larger piece of material

appliqué

2 of 2 verb

appliquéd; appliquéing

: to apply an appliqué to a larger surface