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 jewelry designer and mother of two had a lumpectomy, underwent radiation and took Tamoxifen to reduce her risk of recurrence. — Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 30 June 2026

These include an elite Viking Age burial site unearthed near Lisbjerg and engraved 9th century silver bangles, found in Elsted, that functioned as currency whose value was determined by the jewelry’s weight. — Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Professional pumps and smart jewelry add an extra layer of polish for workplaces with slightly stricter dress codes. — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 29 June 2026

Pair it with flat sandals during the day or dress it up with wedges and simple jewelry for dinner on deck. — Aashna Gheewalla, PEOPLE, 29 June 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