engagement ring

American  

noun

1. a ring, often a diamond, given by a man to his fiancée at the time of their engagement as a token of their betrothal.

---

engagement ring British  

noun

1. a ring given by a man to a woman as a token of their betrothal

---

Etymology

Origin of engagement ring

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

“He was like a knight in shining armor,” says Megan Snyders, 33, a British children’s book illustrator who watched Manguillier search for her friend Olivia Tysoe’s engagement ring.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

Natalie's mother Bernadette told Belfast Crown Court that McCullagh had showed her an engagement ring after her death.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

And if you’re in the market for an engagement ring — it’s proposal season, after all — or a sparkly Valentine’s Day gift, then you should, too.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 3, 2026

The addition of the engagement ring helps sell the story.

From Salon • Jan. 2, 2026

The first man carries the tray to his station, sets an engagement ring in his vise, and peels back the prongs with tweezers.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr