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

The ankle-length silhouette had a pointed collar and a button-down front, with small clusters of gold-toned and clear embellishments scattered throughout. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 30 July 2026

When the boots are busy with embellishments or animal prints, stick to the basics. — Drew Elovitz, InStyle, 28 July 2026

Nowadays, these playful, fringed embellishments have found a new place in the wardrobes of the most fashionable. — Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 28 July 2026

Once a thriving center of Afghan architecture and royal grandeur, Mandu's palaces and mosques now stand frozen in time, their intricate designs and artistic embellishments weathered by centuries of abandonment. — Kieron Marchese, Architectural Digest, 27 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1