diadem

noun

di·a·dem ˈdī-ə-ˌdem

-dəm

Synonyms of diadem next

: crown sense 2

specifically : a royal headband

: crown sense 6a(1)

diadems of power

: something that adorns like a crown

Examples of diadem in a Sentence

Miss America's diadem was auctioned off for charity.

Recent Examples on the Web Who’s to say that Batgirl cap won’t serve as the diadem? —

Lauren Puckett-Pope, ELLE, 31 Aug. 2023 The coolness diadem, or the comfort crown, came our way by a small margin. —

Martin Weil, Washington Post, 23 July 2023 Although Queen Elizabeth opted to wear a day dress and hat in recent years, the State Opening of Parliament often saw the late monarch wearing the Imperial State Crown (or a diadem) and her long velvet Robe of State. —

Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 20 July 2023 Embossed images of bulls, gazelles, lions and flowers adorn the diadems. —

Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 7 July 2023 Princess Mary wore her Edwardian Diamond Necklace Tiara, her go-to diadem. —

Town & Country, 16 June 2023 Buckingham Palace's State Rooms -- where the diadem will be displayed -- will also show off the Queen's official portraits taken by Dorothy Wilding, and the other pieces worn for their sittings. —

Rob Picheta, CNN, 13 May 2022 While the Royal Family polishes the crown jewels for next month’s coronation, the diadem that once belonged to another late Queen will soon be up for auction. —

Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2023 According to reports, Ekaterina's veil was topped by a family heirloom from the prince's family: a diadem created for the May 1913 wedding of Princess Victoria Louise, daughter of Germany's last Kaiser, for her wedding to Ernst August III, the groom's great-grandfather. —

Peter Mikelbank, Peoplemag, 7 Oct. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diadem.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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"