fretwork

noun

fret·​work ˈfret-ˌwərk How to pronounce fretwork (audio)
1
: decoration consisting of work adorned with frets
2
: ornamental openwork or work in relief

Examples of fretwork in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The fretwork should match the song somewhat. David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026 In a distant forest, the monument to his reckless fretwork rustles in the treetops and hums with beehives like the watts in a worn, weary amp burning, crackling for release. Tyehimba Jess, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 Crumbled sidewalks were replaced by planks that covered the sludge that concealed the ancient wood fretwork that buried the bones of the metropolis and its people. Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026 And the blistering fretwork from Collen and Campbell injects every Def Leppard song with adrenaline. Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fretwork

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fretwork was in 1601

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Cite this Entry

“Fretwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fretwork. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

fretwork

noun
fret·​work ˈfret-ˌwərk How to pronounce fretwork (audio)
: decoration consisting of frets
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