tinsel

noun tin·sel \ ˈtin(t)-səl also ˈtin-zəl \

Updated on: 13 Apr 2018

Definition of tinsel

1 : threads, strips, or sheets of metal, paper, or plastic used to produce a glittering and sparkling appearance in fabrics, yarns, or decorations

2 : something superficially attractive or glamorous but of little real worth

disfigured by no gaudy tinsel of rhetoric or declamation
—Thomas Jefferson

See tinsel defined for English-language learners

See tinsel defined for kids

Examples of tinsel in a Sentence

I like to decorate the Christmas tree with tinsel.
He's not attracted to the tinsel and glitter of Hollywood.

Recent Examples of tinsel from the Web

Also, there was a silver tinsel curtain, allowing guests to pose and play for their Instagram shots.

— sari anne tuschman, latimes.com, "Bella Hadid, Paris Jackson, Winnie Harlow celebrate at Dior's L.A. soiree," 16 Mar. 2018
This person turned a faux yellow tree into a pineapple by adding a leafy topper, black tinsel and ornaments for a tropical take on the holidays.

— Country Living, "Pineapple "Christmas Trees" Are Our Favorite New Way to Celebrate This Season," 2 Nov. 2017
Johanna Dominguez used a long stick with feathers or tinsel attached to the end.

— sarah toy, WSJ, "Cat Owners: Let’s Go Hiking! Cats: Yawn," 5 Mar. 2018
Around the holidays, kids decorated officers with tinsel.

— Washington Post, "They used to be afraid of police. Now, students ask: ‘Are they coming?’," 23 Jan. 2018
Cinderella’s transformation gown, meanwhile, evoked the tinsel wonders that Norman Hartnell created for Britain’s young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret.

— hamish bowles, Vogue, "What’s on at the Theater? Hamish Bowles Investigates," 11 Jan. 2018
In a move that surprised many, Olsen donned a silver tinsel wig throughout the clip.

— rachel hahn, Vogue, "Behind Angel Olsen’s Throwback Tour Wardrobe," 23 Feb. 2018
Gluing tinsel to your lashes for a glittery lash look?

— chloe metzger, Marie Claire, "This Makeup Artist Paints Famous People on Her Eyes and We're *Obsessed*," 14 Feb. 2018
When mixed, in the laboratory, with Luca’s genetic tinsel, what person could each egg be destined to make?

— leni zumas, The Cut, "Maybe There’s Nothing Natural About Motherhood," 7 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tinsel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tinsel

Middle English tyneseyle cloth interwoven with metallic thread, probably from Anglo-French tencelé, past participle of tenceler, estenceler to sparkle — more at stencil

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1538

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

tinsel Synonyms

Synonyms

cotton candy;

Related Words

window dressing;

fluff, froth, gossamer;

glitter, gloss;

tinsel

adjective

Definition of tinsel

1 : made of or covered with tinsel

2 a : cheaply gaudy : tawdry

b : specious, superficial

tinsel promises

First Known Use of tinsel

1575

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

tinsel

verb

Definition of tinsel

tinseled or tinselled; tinseling or tinselling play \ˈtin(t)-s(ə-)liŋ also ˈtin-zə-liŋ\

transitive verb

1 : to interweave, overlay, or adorn with or as if with tinsel

2 : to impart a specious brightness to

Recent Examples of tinsel from the Web

Connor’s new prints, on the other hand, made by the industrial dye-sublimation process on aluminum, are but tinseled imitations of her own extraordinary originals.

— charles desmarais, San Francisco Chronicle, "Must-see Bay Area photography exhibitions in March," 8 Mar. 2018
And while my beard has tinseled, the intervening years haven’t exactly been kind to Rome either.

— jason horowitz, New York Times, "My Rome: Still a Classic Beauty," 1 June 2017