decoration
Americannoun
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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
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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:
The clause survives as decoration: incorporated, venerated, and incapable of stopping a single seizure.
From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2026
"There is no evidence of any image showing Emmanuel Macron kneeling to present a royal decoration," the official told AFP.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
She puts a lot of effort into home decoration and entertaining guests as she tries to keep Joe’s churlishness at bay.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
“It’s a decoration, because your system has to now fight the sugar while it’s trying to digest it.”
From MarketWatch ● May 10, 2026
For decoration outside, they nailed a wreath to the door.
From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli
My grandmother made holiday decorations for the house, and my grandfather worked with leather, making jackets and boots.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
So they came over and cooked, and we had a wonderful night for the Brits, putting up all kinds of lights and decorations too.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026
Earlier on Monday, Bangkok governor Chatchart Sittipunt said the flammable interior decorations on the bar's ceiling may have facilitated the blaze's rapid spread.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
Fans won’t be bowled over by the World Cup decorations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
Red-and-green Christmas decorations are hung on the streetlights and in all the stores.
From "Wintergirls" by Laurie Halse Anderson
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.
