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

The men stole dozens of jewelry pieces, valued at approximately $20,000, according to the DA’s office. —Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026

With such a standout dress, the only move is to wear relatively discreet jewelry. —Ana Serrano, Glamour, 16 Mar. 2026

The neutral tones of her makeup paired perfectly with her pale, champagne gown, and her oodles of diamonds feel completed by her jewelry-like nail art. —Marci Robin, Allure, 15 Mar. 2026

In our inaugural Grand Tour, deputy editor Paige Reddinger visits with Jenna Grosfeld of Jenna Blake jewelry, who opens the doors to her Tudor Revival in Bel Air, a 1940 estate with a storied Hollywood pedigree. —John Vorwald, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 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