brooch
Americannoun
-
brooches
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of brooch
1175–1225; Middle English broche broach, differentiated in spelling since circa 1600
Explanation
That fancy pin your Grandma used to wear on her blouse or lapel? It's a brooch, held in place by a sharp needle clasp. Okay, it's a bit unfair to say Grandmothers alone wear brooches, but they do tend to be worn more by powerful older women — witness Margaret Thatcher and Madeleine Albright (both noted brooch wearers). Not surprisingly, brooch is derived from the old French word brooch, meaning "a long needle."
Vocabulary lists containing brooch
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Tuck Everlasting
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“It needs a ruffle,” she says, caught up in the process, before adding a frilly collar and glittering vintage brooch.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
Tom and Evan greet a new day by looking out at the bay, and the mayor tosses that telltale brooch into the water.
From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2026
He finished his wedding-day look with a brooch, ruling out a boutonniere.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026
"It gives an extra touch. It's a good accessory -- it's become very masculine," said Fabio Annese, a 26-year-old Milanese interior designer sporting a heart-shaped brooch at Dolce & Gabbana.
From Barron's ● Jan. 20, 2026
‘Will you please get that brooch back for me,’ Sophie said.
From "The BFG" by Roald Dahl
The museum also confirmed it lost a bust, brooches, a perfume bottle, two bracelets, comb, hatpin, belt buckle and several necklaces and pendants.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
In Armani's refined yet relaxed collection, some men sported a tie pin on their jacket lapel, while male and female models wore matching sparkling brooches.
From Barron's ● Jan. 20, 2026
From her “controlled chaos” come intricate, ornate, one-of-a-kind necklaces, earrings, brooches and rings.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 30, 2025
According to the authorities, eight items were taken including diadems, necklaces, ear-rings and brooches.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2025
Next to him was a pretty young woman selling Lannisport goldwork, rings and brooches and tores and exquisitely wrought medafiions suitable for belting.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
