jewelry

noun

jew·​el·​ry ˈjü-əl-rē 

ˈjül-rē, 

ˈju̇l-;

nonstandard ˈjü-lə-rē

variants US jewelry or chiefly British jewellery

: ornamental pieces (such as rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets) that are made of materials which may or may not be precious (such as gold, silver, glass, and plastic), are often set with genuine or imitation gems, and are worn for personal adornment

a collection of valuable jewelry

a jewelry store

see also costume jewelry

Did you know?

Objects designed for the adornment of the body are called jewelry. While modern jewelry is made of gold, silver, or platinum, often with precious or semiprecious stones, it evolved from shells, animal teeth, and other items used as body decoration in prehistoric times. Over the centuries it came to be a sign of social or religious rank, and in Renaissance Italy, jewelry-making reached the status of a fine art. By the 19th century, industrialization brought jewelry within the reach of the middle class. Firms opened by such jewelers as Carl Fabergé and Louis Comfort Tiffany achieved great success by making fine jewelry for the wealthy.

Examples of jewelry in a Sentence

a store that sells jewelry

Recent Examples on the Web

Swift accessorized the red-and-black plaid suit with high-end accessories — a $54,000 Louis Vuitton Tambour watch, and ruby, diamond, and garnet jewelry in Chiefs colors. — Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2026

Handcrafted in New York City, beautiful, classic pieces are IGI-certified, conflict-free, and made to be worn, not stored in a jewelry box. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Top it off with one of Róhe’s signatures—a drapey satin top—and a pendant necklace from their display case of treasures, featuring vintage silver jewelry alongside the house’s contemporary styles. — Madeline Fass, Vogue, 14 Sep. 2026

If last year is any indication, get ready for intricate textures, trailing scarves, off-white suits with fine tailoring for the men, and understated jewelry pairings that let the clothes do all the talking. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

jewel entry 1 + -ry

First Known Use

circa 1624, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing jewelry

• costume jewelry

Kids Definition

jewelry

noun

jew·​el·​ry ˈjü-əl-rē 

ˈjül-rē

: ornamental pieces (as rings and necklaces) worn on the person : jewels