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
-
(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
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.
The last time he purchased physical gold, in June 2025, it was $400 for about a gram—a gold necklace for his wife to celebrate their anniversary.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
"I have no clue if it's something that I should be verbal about or completely hide," he said, wearing a Star of David necklace.
From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026
On her necklace was a tiny pendant in the shape of a dove.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026
When gymnast Jordan Chiles was stripped of her bronze medal by the International Olympic Committee, Flav gifted her a bronze, oversized clock necklace as a replacement.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026
“Won’t Papá be upset that you’re giving me the necklace he gave you?”
From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar
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.
