necklace
Americannoun
noun
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a chain, band, or cord, often bearing beads, pearls, jewels, etc, worn around the neck as an ornament, esp by women
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(in South Africa) a tyre soaked in petrol, placed round a person's neck, and set on fire in order to burn the person to death
verb
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of necklace
1580–90; neck + lace (in the sense “a cord or string to pull opposite ends together”)
Explanation
A necklace is jewelry you wear around your neck. You might decide your sparkly faux-diamond necklace is a bit dressy for your cousin's baseball game — but perfect for a fancy dinner out. A necklace can be a simple gold or silver chain, a length of beads or gems, or a pendant hanging from a cord. As long as it's worn around the neck, it's a necklace. The word, which dates from the late 1500s, combines neck with lace, meaning "cord," from the Old French laz, "string, cord, or snare." The Latin root, laqueum, means "noose or snare."
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.
An $865,000 Bulgari necklace, $600,000 spent on vehicles and more are detailed in documents.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026
"It should not be like this. Not only in holy places -- nowhere should this happen," Kovalchuk, who was wearing a thin necklace with a silver cross, said.
From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026
Sturgeon became emotional when speaking to the BBC about a necklace gifted to her by Murrell that cost more than £400 and which she often wore in public.
From BBC • May 31, 2026
I recently tried on this beautiful Jennifer Meyer emerald gold necklace that I wanted and I was like “How much?”
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
A golden necklace with a cross that does not belong to me has been artfully draped on the bureau next to a pair of demure white gloves and a jar of cold cream.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
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.
