necklace
Americannoun
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necklaces
plural
noun
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a chain, band, or cord, often bearing beads, pearls, jewels, etc, worn around the neck as an ornament, esp by women
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(in South Africa) a tyre soaked in petrol, placed round a person's neck, and set on fire in order to burn the person to death
verb
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of necklace
1580–90; neck + lace (in the sense “a cord or string to pull opposite ends together”)
Explanation
A necklace is jewelry you wear around your neck. You might decide your sparkly faux-diamond necklace is a bit dressy for your cousin's baseball game — but perfect for a fancy dinner out. A necklace can be a simple gold or silver chain, a length of beads or gems, or a pendant hanging from a cord. As long as it's worn around the neck, it's a necklace. The word, which dates from the late 1500s, combines neck with lace, meaning "cord," from the Old French laz, "string, cord, or snare." The Latin root, laqueum, means "noose or snare."
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:
Meranda, 34, bought a necklace advertised on Etsy as handmade sterling silver but says after a few days of wearing it her "neck started getting really irritated".
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
A January 1945 air raid, she wrote, destroyed her home along with her “beloved notebooks + books + letters + pictures” and a red pearl necklace.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
The company is working on a locketlike Muse device that hangs on a necklace or keychain and will, purportedly, let you talk to your Muse when doing so via your phone is too much work.
From Slate ● Oct. 14, 2026
Napoleon gifted the iconic necklace, featuring 32 Colombian emeralds and 1,138 diamonds, along with its matching emerald earrings, to Marie-Louise for their wedding in 1810.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
I clasp the star on my necklace and tell myself we’ll all be fine, but I still feel afraid.
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
What’s one more charm on one of several necklaces already heavy with lockets and hearts?
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
Partygoers seemed more enthused about the vendor selling beaded plushie necklaces than about heading to the dance floor.
From Slate ● Jun. 25, 2026
"That bag! That bag!" one shopper shouts while racing through the warehouse, filled with everything from colourful toys -- including popular Gundam action figures -- to ceramic bowls, beaded necklaces and even used umbrellas.
From Barron's ● Jun. 17, 2026
I was surprised to find a refrigerated case full of the fresh flower necklaces for as little as $13.99.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
In the lethargy of her pregnancy, Amaranta Úrsula tried to set up a business in necklaces made out of the backbones of fish.
From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
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