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Synonyms

costume jewelry

American  

noun

  1. jewelry made of nonprecious metals, sometimes gold-plated or silver-plated, often set with imitation or semiprecious stones.


Etymology

Origin of costume jewelry

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35

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.

After two years of mostly small exchanges — cookbook galleys, costume jewelry, a set of dinner plates with just the right heft — we brought home something that, improbably, shifted the cadence of our cooking.

From Salon • Aug. 19, 2025

He worked a series of day jobs, including a 15-year stint as a costume jewelry designer.

From New York Times • Dec. 28, 2022

They collected materials from local businesses and assembled small items like toys, costume jewelry, or artificial flowers.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

Navy veteran who often pays for his haircuts with costume jewelry.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 18, 2022

I know it’s just costume jewelry and that none of this is real, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling the weight of the crown like a responsibility.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy