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

Sitting low on her hips were matching straight-leg trousers, with intricate crystal embellishments and a sparkling floral buckle at the waistband. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Nov. 2026

Related Articles Her dress featured a backless scoop and halter top with a pooling, floor length skirt and a small tassel embellishment hanging off the back. — Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 8 Nov. 2026

Paper should never be submerged in water, and shades with beadwork, tassels, or other delicate embellishments may require special care. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2026

Good wore a solid olive-green manicure, while Reinhart's had chrome embellishments and 3D olives, a nod to her character in the film The Love Hypothesis. — Christina Middleton, Allure, 4 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1