bling
Americannoun
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expensive and flashy jewelry, clothing, or other possessions.
-
the flaunting of such possessions or the flashy lifestyle associated with it.
adjective
verb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bling
1995-2000; perhaps imitative of the imaginary sound that light makes when reflecting off a diamond
Explanation
Bling is a slang term for fancy, expensive jewelry and accessories. You might aim to impress on the first day of school by wearing a lot of bling. There's an implication in the very term bling that not only do you have flashy chains and watches, but you want to show them off. The word itself comes from the idea that light glinting off gold or diamonds would make a bling-like sound if you could hear it. Both bling and bling-bling are US rap slang which gained mainstream popularity around the mid-1990s.
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.
“I am an ordinary guy, not at all one of the bling generation,” he explained.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 29, 2026
I’ve been to many shows, operas, big parties and fundraisers, and no one seems to wear their bling.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026
Vance getups or Marco Rubio costumes, let alone decked out in Ted Cruz–themed bling or Rand Paul merch.
From Slate • Apr. 17, 2026
From huge flowers or watch brooches at Dolce & Gabbana to pins at Armani, the bling passed from hands to jackets during the fall/winter 2026/2027 shows in the Italian city.
From Barron's • Jan. 20, 2026
The bling of the text sounds like reassuring company.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
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.
