Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

accouterment

American  
[uh-koo-ter-muhnt, -truh-] / əˈku tər mənt, -trə- /
especially British, accoutrement

noun

  1. a clothing accessory or an accessory piece of equipment: You will need sleeping bags and other accouterments for camping.

    These nautical cufflinks are the perfect accouterment to any boating enthusiast's dress shirt.

    You will need sleeping bags and other accouterments for camping.

  2. a piece of equipment carried by a soldier, excluding weapons and clothing.

  3. a characteristic feature, object, or sign associated with a particular role, situation, etc: Its members all have children, husbands, and the other accouterments of middle-class, American suburban living.

    I take the snob to be someone with an exaggerated respect for wealth and all the other accouterments of status.

    Its members all have children, husbands, and the other accouterments of middle-class, American suburban living.


Etymology

Origin of accouterment

First recorded in 1540–50; from Middle French accou(s)trement; see origin at accouter, -ment

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.

But I was in no hurry to shed this latest accouterment of age.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

You can snack on them solo, but these crackers would also make a great accouterment for cheese platters or rich and festive dips.

From Salon • Nov. 25, 2022

For food, its charcuterie vending machine dispenses cheeses, meats and other accouterment.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 9, 2022

She accepted, and soon after she started her first business — a line of window dressing accouterment — out of their house.

From New York Times • Nov. 27, 2018

No alluring jingle of belted accouterment goes with him, no gift of deadly humor adorns his equally deadly gun-play.

From The Escape of Mr. Trimm His Plight and other Plights by Cobb, Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury)

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "accouterment" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com