pierced

American  

[peerst] / pɪərst /

adjective

1. punctured or perforated, as to form a decorative design.

   a pendant in pierced copper.

2. relating to or being a body part punctured for the purpose of inserting jewelry.

   From jungle tribes to desert nomads to royalty, pierced ears were indicators of both beauty and social standing.

3. relating to or being jewelry attached through a punctured body part: Nude bellies can be enhanced with pierced navel rings.

   Pierced earrings cannot be returned or exchanged due to hygiene reasons.

   Nude bellies can be enhanced with pierced navel rings.

4. Heraldry. (of a charge) open at the center to reveal the field.

   a lozenge pierced.

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Usage

What does pierced mean? Pierced is an adjective that describes things that have had holes made in them by being penetrated or punctured, usually with something sharp. The word comes from the past tense of the verb pierce, which means to penetrate or puncture things in this way. This sense of the word is associated with needles and other thin, sharp objects used to pierce surfaces. To pierce someone’s ear is to make a hole in it with a needle so that an earring can be inserted. This is called a piercing. Pierced is especially used to describe ears and other body parts that have had a hole put in them so that jewelry can be inserted, as in pierced ears, pierced lip, pierced nose, and pierced eyebrow. It can also describe someone who has piercings, as in He was one of those pierced and tattooed guys. Pierced metal is metal that has been perforated with holes, such as to form a design. Example: My ears aren’t pierced—this is just a clip-on earring.

Other Word Forms

• unpierced adjective

Etymology

Origin of pierced

First recorded in 1300–50; pierce, -ed ²

Example Sentences

“Her heart was pierced because of what she would see,” Wille said, in what struck me as a moment of restrained insight.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

One of Norfolk's more unusual 2024 finds was an early medieval gold coin, pierced to be worn as a pendant.

From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026

Until the $680 level is pierced to the upside, investors should remain cautious.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

Amid the fusillade of terrible headlines this year, one pierced my nerdy heart.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 30, 2025

Picking out earrings we would buy if our ears were pierced.

From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor