decal

noun

de·​cal ˈdē-ˌkal  di-ˈkal 

Canadian usually

ˈde-kəl 

: a picture, design, or label made to be transferred (as to glass) from specially prepared paper

Examples of decal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Beyond the jersey, skaters will have new pants, gloves and dark blue helmets with decals that have the new color scheme. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2026

This is a picture like the decal on the back of Uncle Albert’s truck. — Madeline Ffitch, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026

There, investigators located a vehicle with the same decal, but the license plate had changed, according to court documents. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

On the aesthetic front, Vanadium Grey Metallic accents on the sideview-mirror covers, the wheels, the model-designation decals on the doors, and on the badge at the rear help distinguish the latest Carrera T from its siblings. — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

short for decalcomania

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for decal

• freckle
• meckel
• shekel
• speckle
• thecal

Kids Definition

decal

noun

de·​cal ˈdē-ˌkal  di-ˈkal 

ˈdek-əl

: a picture, design, or label made to be transferred (as to glass) from specially prepared paper

Etymology

a shortened form of earlier decalcomania "the art of transferring pictures," from French décalcomanie (same meaning), from décalquer "to copy by tracing" and manie "mania, craze"