diadem

noun

di·​a·​dem ˈdī-ə-ˌdem 

-dəm

1

a

: crown sense 2

specifically : a royal headband

b

: crown sense 6a(1)

diadems of power

2

: something that adorns like a crown

Synonyms

• chaplet
• coronal
• coronel
• coronet
• crown

Examples of diadem in a Sentence

Miss America's diadem was auctioned off for charity.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Danish Royal House confirmed that Queen Margrethe, 85, gave Princess Isabella the diadem with turquoise and diamonds on the occasion of her 18th birthday. —Janine Henni, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025

He’s shown wearing chest armor and a pearl diadem. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Dec. 2024

There’s a diadem and necklace with stars set with diamonds commissioned by Queen D. Maria Pia. —Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024

The garment was discovered in Tomb II alongside a golden scepter, oak wreath and diadem of Persian origins and near depictions of Persian gazelles in the tomb's frieze. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English diademe "monarch's crown, crownlike headdress," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin diadēma "ornamental headband, crown," borrowed from Greek diadēmat-, diádēma "headband, band wrapped around the headdress by Persian monarchs," from diadē-, variant stem of diadéō, diadeîn "to bind on either side, bandage" (from dia- dia- + déō, deîn "to bind, tie") + -mat-, -ma, resultative noun suffix; Greek déō, deîn probably going back to a zero-grade form (*dh₁-i̯é-?) of the Indo-European verbal base *deh₁- "tie, bind," whence also Sanskrit ā́-dhyati "(s/he) binds," Hittite tiya "bind!"; from a full grade *de_h1- Greek édēsa "(I) bound," Sanskrit dāman-, dā́ma "cord, fetter"

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for diadem

• atm
• chernozem
• ibidem
• meristem
• clem
• em
• femme
• gem
• hem
• phlegm
• rem
• stem

Kids Definition

diadem

noun

di·​a·​dem ˈdī-ə-ˌdem 

-əd-əm

: a headband or crown worn especially as a symbol of royalty