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.

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Etymology

Origin of accouterment

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

Example Sentences

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

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

For her number Chase also had the ideal accouterment, a flute of intricate plastic tubing that looked as if it took its inspiration from a cow's intestine.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2018

The danger rises when the ideology itself becomes part of the “look” — an accouterment to a three-piece suit, a stance to match a pair of shades.

From Salon • Dec. 3, 2016

During their stay at Delhi they had, profiting by their previous expedition, got rid of every article of accouterment that could make a noise.

From In Times of Peril by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)

Related Words

• accessory
• accoutrement
• trappings