accessory

American  

[ak-ses-uh-ree] / ækˈsɛs ə ri /

noun

• accessories
  plural

1. a subordinate or supplementary part, object, or the like, used mainly for convenience, attractiveness, safety, etc., as a spotlight on an automobile or a lens cover on a camera.

2. an article or set of articles of dress, as gloves, earrings, or a scarf, that adds completeness, convenience, attractiveness, etc., to one's basic outfit.

3. Law.

   1. Also called accessory before the fact. a person who, though not present during the commission of a felony, is guilty of having aided and abetted another, who committed the felony.

   2. Also called accessory after the fact. a person who knowingly conceals or assists another who has committed a felony.

   Synonyms:

   accomplice

4. Anatomy. accessory nerve.

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adjective

1. contributing to a general effect; supplementary; subsidiary.

2. Law. giving aid as an accessory.

accessory British  

/ əkˈsɛsərɪ /

noun

1. a supplementary part or object, as of a car, appliance, etc

2. (often plural) a small accompanying item of dress, esp of women's dress

3. a person who incites someone to commit a crime or assists the perpetrator of a crime, either before or during its commission

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adjective

1. supplementary; additional; subordinate

2. assisting in or having knowledge of an act, esp a crime

Synonym Usage

See addition.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• accessoriness
  noun
• accessorial
  adjective
• interaccessory
  adjective
• nonaccessory
  adjective
• accessorily
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• accessories
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of accessory

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English accessorie (from Middle French ), from Medieval Latin accessōrius. See accede, -tory ¹

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Explanation

Whether we're talking about a fog light for your boat or just a nice hat to go with your boating outfit, an accessory is something you add to something else to make it better. An accessory can be any piece of clothing that you wear or carry as long as it isn't part of the main outfit. You can also use the word to refer to someone who helps someone else commit a crime. So the guy who distracted the old lady while another guy grabbed her purse? He was the accessory to the theft of an accessory.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accessory accessories

Elsewhere on Saturday, French luxury house Hermes presented its women's collection in the courtyard of the elite Republican Guard police unit in Paris, making the zip its leitmotif and the ultra-fine strap an accessory.

From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026

Somewhere in your house probably lurks a book, an accessory or an appliance you may not have bought if Winfrey hadn’t given it her seal of approval.

From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026

There has been no statute of limitations in Germany for either murder or accessory to murder since 1979, to enable the prosecution of Nazi-era crimes.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

The accessory units are a three-bedroom and two-bath apartment and a smaller one-bedroom apartment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

“A fashion accessory? Oh boy. Here we go.”

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner

In Coventry, Adele Harrison, founder of not-for-profit organisation Cov Cloth, runs workshops that teach children and parents how to transform unwanted textiles and household items into Halloween costumes, decorations and accessories.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026

For the uninitiated, Quince is a high-end, direct-to-consumer brand which makes duplicates of pricey, popular apparel and accessories.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

The note scrutinized four distinct channels by which AI might contribute to pricing pressures: software and accessories, consumer electronics, electricity prices and other cost spillovers like industrial metals and construction wage growth.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026

These gems are surrounded by a wealth of period garments, accessories, artworks, posters, sketches, photographs and clips from over 50 silent movies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

For more on j and x sounds, see the box on page 153. accessories.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

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Related Words

• adornment
• appliance
• component
• decoration

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