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

For the event, which raises money for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Gomez exuded old Hollywood elegance in a glamorous black gown featuring sparkly embellishments. —Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025

Angelina Jolie didn’t need embellishment to make an impact on the red carpet in Rome on Saturday night. —Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2025

The two harmonize beautifully, freestyling over the song’s last couple of minutes, underpinned by D’Angelo’s unmistakable electric piano embellishments. —Jem Aswad, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025

The boots are covered in a plush, vegan leopard-print fur, decked out with Jibbitz charms, chains, and embellishments. —Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 13 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1