appliqué

American  

[ap-li-key] / ˌæp lɪˈkeɪ /

noun

1. ornamentation, as a cutout design, that is sewn on to or otherwise applied to a piece of material.

2. work so formed.

3. a decorative feature, as a sconce, applied to a surface.

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verb (used with object)

appliquéd, appliquéing

1. to apply as appliqué to.

appliqué British  

/ æˈpliːkeɪ /

noun

1. a decoration or trimming of one material sewn or otherwise fixed onto another

2. the practice of decorating in this way

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verb

1. (tr) to sew or fix (a decoration) on as an appliqué

Etymology

Origin of appliqué

1835–45; < French: applied, fastened to, past participle of appliquer to apply

Explanation

Applique is a sewing technique that involves stitching a small piece of fabric onto a larger one to make a pattern or design. You could decorate your jeans using applique, sewing flowers and stars on them. When you use applique to decorate something like a pillow or a handbag, you often cut out fabric shapes and sew or glue them on. Applique is the technique that's used to make sports or college banners as well, attaching letters to the triangular fabric. You can also spell the word with an accented e, appliqué, which gives you a clue about its pronunciation — the last syllable rhymes with "hay." The French root word is appliquer, "to apply."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

appliqué appliquéd

Gallina, 75, was clad in a floor-length dark green striped appliqué jacket and clutching a paper ticket when she declared the Olympics to be a nuisance that has “nothing to do with Milan’s essence.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 12, 2026

Cloth stars and helping hands are stitched onto appliqué hats in both Benin and Vietnam.

From New York Times ● Mar. 9, 2023

“Nevertheless, the black appliqué still draws attention and makes her stand apart from everybody else.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2022

The Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. sat with first lady Jill Biden, who had an embroidered appliqué of a sunflower, the country’s national flower, added to her blue dress.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 1, 2022

One of the oldest authentic bits of appliqué is at Stonyhurst College.

From Quilts Their Story and How to Make Them by Webster, Marie D. (Marie Daugherty)

The oddly placed shooting star on the bottom right is actually part of an appliquéd textile Münter made.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 10, 2026

After her mother died the following year, Ringgold paid tribute with “Mother’s Quilt,” a quilt appliquéd with doll-like Black figures, like angels, made from fabric scraps the women were saving for future use.

From New York Times ● Feb. 17, 2022

Before he launched his clothing line, Ruby was known for his “soft sculptures”—huge Dr. Seuss-ish stuffed creatures, quilted and appliquéd and sewn from fabrics designed by the artist.

From The New Yorker ● Sep. 2, 2019

He commissioned T-shirts and accessories printed and appliquéd with cartoon characters and with slogans, also a novelty.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 18, 2012

She is by far the most attractive member of the family, yet she spends most of her time and money disguising herself beneath prosthetic humps and appliquéd skin diseases.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Related Words

• color
• design
• finery
• ornament
• plaque
• ribbon
• trinket
• wreath