decorated
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of decorated
Explanation
When something is embellished or made more beautiful, it's decorated, like the elaborately decorated cookies you made your parents for their anniversary. Besides things that are ornamented or adorned with decorations, you can also use this adjective for people who are honored, particularly soldiers who have served heroically. A decorated war veteran has received medals, awards, and honors from the military. Decorated soldiers often wear their medals on their uniforms. The Latin root of decorated is decus, "an ornament."
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.
Decorated across one of the scarves, which Alavi said she would like to wear, she had embroidered purple butterflies taking flight.
From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026
Decorated with personal messages from those who loved her, it shows a beaming Elianne, her hair worn in her favourite pom-pom style.
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2025
He dropped out of Emerson College in 1942 to enlist in the Air Force and was awarded a Decorated Air Medal.
From Washington Times • Dec. 6, 2023
Decorated with geometric patterns, the sheets seem to have been used to cover wooden pieces, although these have long since rotted away.
From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023
Decorated with wildflowers in the warm season, the room remained pleasant in the autumn with wreaths of red and gold leaves.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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.
