bric-a-brac

noun

ˈbri-kə-ˌbrak 

plural bric-a-brac

1

: a miscellaneous collection of small articles commonly of ornamental or sentimental value : curios

2

: something suggesting bric-a-brac especially in extraneous decorative quality

Examples of bric-a-brac in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the auditorium, the walls are decorated with zigzag patterns and starbursts, carvings and bric-a-brac, under enormous chandeliers. — David Allen, Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026

The Ghastly Grotto started its life as a simple CostCo shed, but Mitchell has since turned it into a full-scale tiki bar, with niches and grottos packed with art, figurines and other bric-a-brac, all with a ghoulish bent. — Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026

Clean Up Your Mess To be fair, some booths at antiques stores are a hot mess, with junk piled high like bric-a-brac Jenga. — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 6 Apr. 2026

Girlfriend scales the diaristic, bric-a-brac charm of Janky Star into a high-drama pop monument to trying, flopping, and trying even harder next time. — Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French bric-à-brac

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bric-a-brac

• abc
• absentee
• addressee
• adoptee
• allottee
• amphorae
• amputee
• apc
• apogee
• appointee
• assessee
• assignee

Kids Definition

bric-a-brac

noun

ˈbrik-ə-ˌbrak

: small ornamental articles