decoration
Americannoun
-
decorations
plural
-
something used for decorating; adornment; embellishment.
The gymnasium was adorned with posters and crepe-paper decorations for the dance.
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the act of decorating.
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a badge, medal, etc., conferred and worn as a mark of honor.
a decoration for bravery.
noun
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an addition that renders something more attractive or ornate; adornment
-
the act, process, or art of decorating
-
a medal, badge, etc, conferred as a mark of honour
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of decoration
First recorded in 1575–85; from Late Latin decorātiōn- (stem of decorātiō ) “an ornament”; see decorate, -ion
Explanation
A decoration is anything used to make something more attractive or festive. If you’re having a Valentine’s Day party, drape your house in red and pink decorations. Decoration is also a type of honor, like a soldier's medal or stripe. To decorate is to spiff something up, making it more colorful and attractive, like hanging streamers in a room or ornaments on a tree. Decorations are things used in this way. Many decorations are specific to holidays, like green decorations for St. Patrick's Day. Also, decorations are the honors given to people who have won or achieved something. A war hero's Purple Heart medal is a decoration. You can say that someone who has many of these honors is decorated.
Vocabulary lists containing decoration
Memorial Day Words
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"Familiar Places"
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for February 12–February 18, 2022
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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.
See Examples For:
Current affairs often make their way into the traditional celebrations, like theme-based decoration of tents in Kolkata city, which is famous for its Durga Puja celebrations.
From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026
The sequel is flat and digital, loaded with garish CGI and set decoration that often mistakes boho chic for cottagecore.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
Based on a first analysis of the painted decoration inside the tomb, we identified its main owner as a male official named Paser.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 10, 2026
Now, thanks to a joint install with a friend, the light fixture hangs in the laundry area between the bedroom and bathroom, occasionally catching a cross breeze but mostly serving as decoration.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
About twenty feet across, the Map Room had concrete walls bare of any decoration.
From "The Maze Runner" by James Dashner
One is filled with Diwali decorations and twinkling lights.
From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026
“I don’t love the safety implications of them focusing harder on avoiding decorations rather than watching out for cars.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
Giant skeletons: Home Depot’s 12-foot-tall skeletons are some of the most coveted—and noticeable—Halloween decorations around.
From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2026
Within two days of putting up his decorations in late September, Carrara, 40, received an anonymous note from a local parent complaining that the ghoulish display was terrorizing their children as they walked to school.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026
The lines in her face looked earned; they were not decorations casually bestowed.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
