embroidery

noun

em·​broi·​dery im-ˈbrȯi-d(ə-)rē 

plural embroideries

1

a

: the art or process of forming decorative designs with hand or machine needlework

b

: a design or decoration formed by or as if by embroidery

c

: an object decorated with embroidery

2

: elaboration by use of decorative and often fictitious detail

3

: something pleasing or desirable but unimportant

considered the humanities mere educational embroidery

Synonyms of embroidery

• needlework

Examples of embroidery in a Sentence

She learned embroidery from her grandmother.

His stories about his travels include a good deal of embroidery.

Recent Examples on the Web

The space will have labs dedicated to textiles, knitwear, embroidery, patternmaking, garment construction and prototyping and experimentation. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 9 Sep. 2026

Highlights include a jewel box of a shop lined with wood drawers of glittering gemlike brooches, insignia, cords, and colored fringes; an embroidery and monogramming school; and a bead room for commissioning consultations. — Clare Coulson, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026

These reproductions are surprisingly effective, partly because the tapestry was made by many hands to begin with, and free embroidery is not an art of finesse. — John Phipps, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026

Hundreds of thousands of people will file past the ancient 70-meter (230-foot) embroidery, taking in its 600 human characters and 58 scenes that relate the events of 1066 – the last time England was successfully overrun by an invading force. — Mark Rice-Oxley, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

embroidery

noun

em·​broi·​dery im-ˈbrȯid-(ə-)rē 

plural embroideries

1

: the process or art of embroidering

2

: needlework done to decorate cloth