adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of decorative
Explanation
Things that are decorative have no purpose except to look pretty. Blueberry bushes produce fruit that humans and birds can eat, while boxwood shrubs are purely decorative. The fake buttons on your winter coat are just decorative — then again, your high heeled shoes are more decorative than useful, and your jewelry and makeup is also decorative. The knickknacks on your mantel, the wreath on your front door, and the creepy doll collection in your living room are all decorative as well. These things dress up or ornament your home, and decorative comes from the Latin root decorare, "to decorate, adorn, or beautify."
Vocabulary lists containing decorative
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.
Numerous ritual and decorative objects from the Jewish Museum’s own collection are joined by loans from other institutions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
Novack’s tip if you can’t find someone who wants your piano: Hire an artist to take it apart and turn it into something new, either furniture or decorative art.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
Cooper said some developments had even featured "fake" weep vents, where decorative plastic pieces had been fitted instead of functioning openings.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
The men argued that they purchased the candy specifically for the decorative designs and paid a premium for products they would not otherwise have bought.
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026
He has treated his shapes much like the enclosed, flat panes of a stained-glass window to create a lively decorative pattern.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
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