decoration

noun

dec·​o·​ra·​tion ˌde-kə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce decoration (audio)
1
: the act or process of decorating
2
: something that adorns, enriches, or beautifies : ornament
3
: a badge of honor (such as a U.S. military award)

Examples of decoration in a Sentence

The vase has a fancy decoration on one side. a plain sweater knit without decoration He's a genius at home decoration. a unique style of decoration He received a decoration from the President.
Recent Examples on the Web In the background, a giant bull with colorful pre-Hispanic decorations shined under the sun, where a group of young artisans were busy with the final touches. Fernanda Pesce and Alexis Triboulard, Quartz, 9 Mar. 2024 In December, Gagnon was commissioned to make papier-mâché holiday decorations for the White House, including renderings of the Bidens’ family pets — Willow the cat and Commander the dog — and cranberry topiaries mounted on Chippendale-style boxes. Alexa Brazilian, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Within the fort’s boundary, researchers have also unearthed the skeleton of a teenager, who may have been among the colony’s first arrivals; 17th-century scissors; and a braided metal decoration that may have adorned a coat or glove. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 What’s next for Pancake Circus? Since taking over Pancake Circus, Anwar has installed quirky pancake wallpaper in the booth area and cleaned up the space by removing some of the clown decorations. Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 29 Feb. 2024 Varying widely in style and decoration, these ceramics became an integral part of everyday life. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 While her children, 7 and 12, are at school, Kuehne is at home using the Amazon app to scan wall art, last season’s Christmas decorations, even snacks in the pantry to see if they’re listed for sale on the site. Caroline O'Donovan, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2024 Instead they are used as table decorations or baked into a traditional Easter bread called a tsoureki, which has three braids meant to signify the Holy Trinity. Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2024 The storefront’s seasonal decorations signal that this is a good place to go for something sweet. The Courier-Journal, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decoration.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of decoration was in 1585

Dictionary Entries Near decoration

Cite this Entry

“Decoration.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decoration. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

decoration

noun
dec·​o·​ra·​tion ˌdek-ə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce decoration (audio)
1
: the act or action of decorating
2
: something that decorates or beautifies : ornament
holiday decorations
3
: a badge of honor (as a medal, cross, or ribbon)

More from Merriam-Webster on decoration

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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