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

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

Small, independent merchants don’t offer the bric-a-brac of Christmas baubles of embroidered kilts found in nearby (and more touristy) Pitlochry, but instead opt for used books at The Birnam Reader, artisanal cheeses and baked goods at Aran Bakery, and small-batch gin at LÒN. — Timothy Latterner, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Feb. 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