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  

/ ˌæksɛˈsɔːrɪəl, 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

Etymology

Origin of accessory

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

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

Meta has enlisted Kylie Jenner in its campaign to convince us that Meta Glasses are a hot girlboss accessory.

From Slate ● Jul. 8, 2026

Still, they left enough of an impression from the bars of Back Bay to the stands at Fenway Park that Boston’s hottest accessory this summer might just be a set bagpipes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

In 2026, Idaho legalized starters-homes on small lots and Virginia allowed accessory dwelling units by right.

From Barron's ● Jun. 24, 2026

The shuttle of the Iran World Cup team between Mexico and the United States took root Sunday in Tijuana with an accessory.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026

Every accessory I could imagine— scarves, purses, hats, parasols—sat waiting to be matched with the right outfit.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

After spending decades collecting clean-lined Midcentury Modern furniture and accessories, stylist Wendi Weger felt it was time to give her Silver Lake apartment a playful update.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026

Arkansas: Clothing and shoes under $100, accessories under $50 and all school supplies, art supplies and electronic devices are exempt from sales tax Aug. 1-2.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

The $5,000 suites, which accommodate four people, are decked out like hotel rooms with showers, balconies, minibars without price sheets, snacks galore and a drawer of Apple charging accessories free for the taking.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

His collection was a nod to the American sculptor Lynda Benglis and featured accordion-like dresses, skirts and accessories.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

Not so, though, with young Howard—assistant manager Howard, as he is uniformly called— who rules over all of softlines, including infants’, children’s, men’s, accessories, and underwear.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

Related Words

• adornment
• appliance
• component
• decoration