embellishment

noun

em·​bel·​lish·​ment im-ˈbe-lish-mənt 

1

: the act or process of embellishing

2

: something serving to embellish

3

: ornament sense 5

Synonyms

• ornamentation
• ornament
• decoration
• adornment

Examples of embellishment in a Sentence

a colorful mobile is just the embellishment that the soon-to-be nursery needs

the actor's penchant for embellishment suggests that his memoirs would be more appropriately shelved in the fiction section

Recent Examples on the Web

As sociologist Mustapha Hashim Kurfi writes, in Hausa communities of northern Nigeria, calligraphy is deeply valued both as part of Islamic scholarship and as gorgeous embellishment for everything from building walls to horse blankets. —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 14 Sep. 2025

In fact, the outing displayed an exploration of embellishment for Hudson as several styles featured intricate embroideries. —Roxanne Robinson, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025

The silhouette of the dress was very traditional, but the embellishments were on the more playful side and included large rosettes and wax flowers. —Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2025

The actress turned to Balmain‘s resort 2026 collection for her look, which featured gold hardware embellishment at the halter neckline. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1