circlet

American  

[sur-klit] / ˈsɜr klɪt /

noun

1. a small circle.

2. a ring.

3. a ring-shaped ornament, especially for the head.

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circlet British  

/ ˈsɜːklɪt /

noun

1. a small circle or ring, esp a circular ornament worn on the head

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Etymology

Origin of circlet

1475–85; circle + -et; replacing late Middle English serclett < Middle French

Explanation

Use the noun circlet to describe something that's shaped like a little circle. You might shape a circlet of greens to hang on your door as a wreath. Circlet is an old-fashioned word for a small circle. You could talk about a bride putting a circlet of gold on her groom's finger, or describe a doughnut as a circlet of sweet dough fried in hot oil. Classically, a circlet referred to a crown — a circle made of fine metal and jewels. The Latin root, circus, means "ring," and the French cerclet came later, to mean a smaller ring or circle.

Example Sentences

The King, in a light summer suit, spoke a few quiet words of welcome, wearing a circlet of feathers and a scarf that had been draped ceremonially around his shoulders.

From BBC • Jul. 11, 2025

The first English king shown on a coin wearing a crown or circlet was Athelstan, who died in 939, according to the Royal Household website.

From Washington Post • Dec. 20, 2022

“The Shaun Leane crown of thorns he thought might be tricky,” Mr. Bolton said, referring to the silver circlet that the London jewelry designer made for Alexander McQueen’s fall 1996 show.

From New York Times • May 8, 2018

Finally the exasperated Newport pushed down on Powhatan’s shoulders and forced him to stoop low enough to get the circlet on his head.

From Textbooks • Jan. 18, 2018

“And there’s a daisy,” I said, throwing a circlet of the white flowers with their sunlike centers.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein