Definition of tinsel
(Entry 1 of 3)
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
tinsel
adjectiveDefinition of tinsel (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: made of or covered with tinsel
2a
: cheaply gaudy : tawdry
b
: specious, superficial
tinsel promises
tinsel
verbDefinition of tinsel (Entry 3 of 3)
1
: to interweave, overlay, or adorn with or as if with tinsel
2
: to impart a specious brightness to
Buying Guide
Our Reviews team has selected the best artificial christmas trees.
Test Your Vocabulary
Words Named After People
-
- Namesake of the leotard, Jules Léotard had what profession?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share tinsel
Time Traveler for tinsel
The first known use of tinsel was in 1538
See more words from the same year