knickknack

Or nick·nack

[nik-nak]

noun

1. an ornamental trinket or gimcrack; a bit of bric-a-brac.

Other Word Forms

• knickknacked adjective
• knickknacky adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of knickknack¹

1610–20; gradational compound based on knack in obsolete sense “toy”

Example Sentences

Nor was she supervising the housemaids as they dusted knickknacks in the parlor.

Read more on Literature

A mix of store-bought animatronics, handmade props and found objects — vintage lamps, creatures with elongated necks and an assortment of mystical, witchy knickknacks, fill every nook.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She’s livid, and Bravo frames the shot to show her on the far left of the screen with Stefani on the distant right, shelves full of black and white knickknacks dividing them.

Read more on Salon

Fans who wanted bonus tunes or knickknacks or just aimed to champion their favorite artist bought multiple copies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

They found a pair of her father’s vintage spectacles and fragments of his sculptures, assembled from knickknacks and everyday objects.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bauble 
• bric-a-brac 
• curio 
• ornament 
• souvenir 
• trinket 

When To Use

What is a knickknack?

A knickknack is a small decorative object, such as a little statue of a dog or a bobblehead.A knickknack is any keepsake, trinket, ornament, figure, or display piece that you own just to display it. Knickknacks can include small statues or figures, novelty candles or cups, and small toys. They can also include plastic figures based on pop culture, fidget devices such as cubes and spinners, stress balls, paperweights, and display boxes. Because knickknacks don’t take up much space, you generally don’t notice them much until you have so many that they clutter your space.Knickknacks are similar to gimcracks, which are showy, useless items, and the terms are often used interchangeably. The term bric-a-brac, another similar term, refers to small items that are collected for sentimental value, as a hobby, or for decorative purposes.Example: Every time I go to a garage sale, I come home with more knickknacks that clutter my shelves.