brooch
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of brooch
1175–1225; Middle English broche broach, differentiated in spelling since circa 1600
Explanation
That fancy pin your Grandma used to wear on her blouse or lapel? It's a brooch, held in place by a sharp needle clasp. Okay, it's a bit unfair to say Grandmothers alone wear brooches, but they do tend to be worn more by powerful older women — witness Margaret Thatcher and Madeleine Albright (both noted brooch wearers). Not surprisingly, brooch is derived from the old French word brooch, meaning "a long needle."
Vocabulary lists containing brooch
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Some Tricky Homonyms
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Tuck Everlasting
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Tom and Evan greet a new day by looking out at the bay, and the mayor tosses that telltale brooch into the water.
From Salon • Jun. 18, 2026
The brooch, in the shape of Hindu deity Lord Krishna, is an emblem of both the fast-developing power of AI technology and hopes it will drive innovation in India's youthful economy.
From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026
She had her own nod to the island with a brooch of a Flor de Maga, Puerto Rico’s national flower.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026
The conspicuous consumption in “The Queen of Sparkle” section includes her diamond brooch and pendant, and her jewelry chest, made by Martin Carlin in 1770, whose adornment of Sèvres porcelain set a trend.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026
“My brooch, and mine alone,” he muttered, and followed it with a barked, “Just coming, Tom!”
From "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman
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.
