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

Formal dresses should reach your ankles or just kiss the floor, but beyond that, the details are up to you; pair Tuckernuck’s bow-strap dress with gold jewelry, style Hutch’s high-low pick with a dramatic faux-fur layer, or try Zara’s blazer dress for fashion-forward dress codes. —Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 4 Dec. 2025

The doll features the iconic gingham dress, stunning jewelry accessories, and even a makeover to look like leading lady Margot Robbie. —Hildara Araya, Parents, 4 Dec. 2025

In the past few years, Quince has steadily moved beyond clothes and accessories to carry home goods, fine jewelry, and wellness products. —Abbey Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Dec. 2025

Elsa Peretti’s sculptural, minimalist jewelry feels newly modern; at home, antique flatware is making a return to the table. —Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Dec. 2025

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