jewel

noun

jew·​el ˈjü-əl  ˈjül 

also ˈju̇l

often attributive

1

: a precious stone : gem

2

: an ornament of precious metal often set with stones or decorated with enamel and worn as an accessory of dress

3

: one that is highly esteemed

regarded the library as the jewel of the campus

4

: a bearing for a pivot (as in a watch) made of crystal, glass, or a gem

jewellike

ˈjü-əl-ˌlīk 

ˈjül-

also ˈju̇l-

adjective

Synonyms of jewel

• gem
• rock

Examples of jewel in a Sentence

That diamond is one of world's largest jewels.

This painting is the jewel in our gallery.

The building is regarded as one of the jewels of modern architecture.

Recent Examples on the Web

The lab glowed like a jewel in the distance, and around him bioluminescent plankton shone like stars. —Susan Cosier, Scientific American, 6 June 2026

The smaller setups would be fantastic for take-away coffee shops, pop-up retail stores, or jewel-sized offices, while the larger options—which can be combined with other modular containers to create a truly expansive space—offer enough room to create your dream space. —Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 6 June 2026

Traditionally held at Belmont Park, the third jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown has been held in Saratoga during Belmont's renovations and will return to its original home next year. —Geoff Clark Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026

Unsurprisingly, owing to the brand’s long legacy of crafting exquisite jewels, aesthetics rule at Bulgari hotels. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English juel, from Anglo-French, diminutive of ju, jeu game, play, from Latin jocus game, joke — more at joke

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing jewel

• crown jewel
• jewel box
• jewel in the crown
• jewel tone

Rhymes for jewel

• cruel
• dual
• duel
• fuel
• gruel
• newel
• accrual
• nonfuel
• refuel
• renewal
• biofuel
• contextual

Kids Definition

jewel

1 of 2 noun

jew·​el ˈjü-əl 

ˈjül

1

: an ornament of precious metal often set with stones and worn as an accessory of dress

2

: one that is highly valued or prized

3

: a precious stone : gem

4

: a bearing in a watch made of a crystal or a precious stone

jewel

2 of 2 verb

jeweled or jewelled; jeweling or jewelling

: to adorn or equip with jewels