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 of embellishment

• 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

Multicolor round beads sat across the lower lace area, while gem embellishments covered the toe box of the low-cut silhouette and continued around the collar. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 6 June 2026

The mirror silver embellishment on the heel adds a bit of Milanese glamor. —Nneya Richards, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2026

Kelly had sent models down the runway wearing anything from a watermelon bra top and matching headdress to a mini dress featuring golliwog embellishments in order to reclaim some of the most offensive stereotypes that were often birthed in the American south. —Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 2 June 2026

Lightweight or delicate fabrics, a complex design, or decorative embellishments are elements that may call for a ‘hand-wash only’ label. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1