earring
Americannoun
-
earrings
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of earring
before 1000; Middle English erering, Old English ēarhring. See ear 1, ring 1
Explanation
An earring is jewelry you wear on your ear. Your favorite earrings might be tiny white pearls, or they might be long feathers that dangle to your shoulders. An earring is any kind of ring, stud, hoop, or dangling decoration that you clip on your earlobe or hook through a hole pierced in your ear. Many people wear two matching earrings, one in each lobe, although others have just one pierced ear and wear a single earring — and some have multiple piercings in which they can wear a variety of earrings. In the 18th century, an earring that dangled was called an ear-drop.
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:
Former England midfielder Fara Williams says West Ham's Estelle Cascarino made a "schoolgirl error" when she was denied the chance to make her debut because of an earring.
From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2026
The small canvas shows a young woman set on a dark background, her head turned towards the viewer and a pearl earring glinting from beneath her blue and cream turban.
From Barron's ● Jan. 8, 2026
Sussberg said he doesn’t expect to wear an earring, but might reconsider.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2025
I think about who owned this jewelry, the stories that come with the jewelry — your grandma’s earring could be there.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2025
“A earring’s a earring to me. Ain’t that right, Claude?”
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
With a full beard, glittering earrings in both ears and braces on his teeth, Wallace is the man on campus.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
Ceuzany's voice ranges from crystalline highs to deep lows, as she performs everything from jazz to slam, commanding the stage with wavy blonde hair and earrings framing her radiant face.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
Pictures from outside exam centres showed security personnel inspecting candidates' hair, and taking out their earrings.
From BBC ● Jun. 21, 2026
She accessorized her look with a pair of dangling earrings, a silver watch and a thin band on her wedding finger.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
Often, he dressed himself quite handsomely—full turban, beaded velvet vest, calico shirt of fine red cloth, a bandolier bag, earrings.
From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich
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.
