bauble
Americannoun
-
a showy, usually cheap, ornament; trinket; gewgaw.
-
a jester's scepter.
noun
-
a showy toy or trinket of little value; trifle
-
Usual US name: Christmas ornament. a small, usually spherical ornament made of coloured or decorated material which is hung from the branches of a Christmas tree
-
(formerly) a mock staff of office carried by a court jester
Etymology
Origin of bauble
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English babel, babulle, from Old French babel, baubel, derivatives of an expressive base with varying vocalisms; compare Old French baubelet “little trinket”; bibelot
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.
The Nobel Peace Prize is a tarnished bauble.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 8, 2026
Publicist Francesca Simons, whose firm represents jeweler Jacquie Aiche, posted more details about the bauble to her Instagram stories.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 2, 2025
Each year Ellie Goan hangs two special decorations on her Christmas tree, a star and bauble - reminders of the two pregnancies she lost.
From BBC • Nov. 28, 2025
Even so, this direct-to-streaming bauble benefits from two leads whose charm effortlessly outshines the material.
From New York Times • Nov. 28, 2024
"That bauble around your neck—was it bought with gold or iron?"
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
