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

Her appreciation for storytelling only deepened over time, shaped by life experiences that included caring for her grandparents during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic and later starting her own small jewelry business. —Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026

But what does granny jewelry actually look like? —Dino Bonačić, Glamour, 2 May 2026

In addition to the Mother’s Day themed photo backdrops, there will be stuff to buy from local artisans and other vendors and special foods, including floral arrangements, candles, beauty products, jewelry and more. —Marla Jo Fisher, Oc Register, 1 May 2026

The sale features clothing for $2 along with home goods, linens, glassware, jewelry, toys, books and vintage goods, collectibles and a boutique. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 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