frill

American  

[fril] / frɪl /

noun

1. a trimming, as a strip of cloth or lace, gathered at one edge and left loose at the other; ruffle.

2. something resembling such a trimming, as the fringe of hair on the chest of some dogs.

3. affectation of manner, style, etc.

4. something superfluous.

5. Photography. wrinkling or loosening of an emulsion at the edges, usually due to excessively high temperature during developing.

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verb (used with object)

1. to trim or ornament with a frill or frills.

2. to form into a frill.

verb (used without object)

1. Photography. (of an emulsion) to become wrinkled or loose.

frill British  

/ frɪl /

noun

1. a gathered, ruched, or pleated strip of cloth sewn on at one edge only, as on garments, as ornament, or to give extra body

2. a ruff of hair or feathers around the neck of a dog or bird or a fold of skin around the neck of a reptile or amphibian

3. Full name: oriental frill.  (often capital) a variety of domestic fancy pigeon having a ruff of curled feathers on the chest and crop

4. photog a wrinkling or loosening of the emulsion at the edges of a negative or print

5. informal (often plural) a superfluous or pretentious thing or manner; affectation

   he made a plain speech with no frills

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verb

1. (tr) to adorn or fit with a frill or frills

2. to form into a frill or frills

3. (intr) photog (of an emulsion) to develop a frill

Other Word Forms

• friller
  noun
• frilliness
  noun
• frilly
  adjective
• unfrill
  verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of frill

First recorded in 1585–95; origin uncertain

Explanation

Use the noun frill when you talk about a decorative strip used as trim. You might have a frill along the bottom of your favorite skirt. The pleated trim or ruffle at the hem of a sweater or along the bottom of a sofa slipcover can be called a frill. You can also use the word in a more figurative way, to describe anything that's merely extra or for decoration: "The beginning of his speech was nothing but a frill," or "We need to work on our budget — first, let's cut out the frills, like getting our shoes shined and eating out every night."

Example Sentences

Folks congregate in a barber shop called The Frill Is Gone.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 4, 2025

No Frill is a place to sit, eat and go without pretense or loitering.

From Washington Times • Jan. 7, 2016

Last week Eastern's domination of this golden market was challenged when Pan Am launched the opening round of the Frill Wars.

From Time Magazine Archive

Ruff or Frill 15 Large, very long, flowing, and lion-like, extending over the shoulders, and covering the neck and chest thickly.

From Our Cats and All About Them Their Varieties, Habits, and Management; and for Show, the Standard of Excellence and Beauty; Described and Pictured by Weir, Harrison

M. de Whiskerburg had galloped off with Lady Aphrodite, and Count Frill had flown away with the Bird of Paradise.

From The Young Duke by Disraeli, Benjamin, Earl of Beaconsfield