sequin
Americannoun
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a small shining disk or spangle used for ornamentation, as on clothing, accessories, or theatrical costumes.
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a former gold coin of Venice, introduced in 1284; ducat.
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a former gold coin of Malta, introduced c1535.
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a former gold coin of Turkey, introduced in 1478.
noun
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a small piece of shiny often coloured metal foil or plastic, usually round, used to decorate garments, etc
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Also called: zecchino. any of various gold coins that were formerly minted in Italy, Turkey, and Malta
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sequin
First recorded in 1575–85; from French sequin, from Italian zecchino, equivalent to zecc(a) “mint” (from Arabic sikkah “die, coin”) + -ino -ine 2
Explanation
A sequin is a flat little bead that catches the light and makes evening gowns shimmer. One little sequin is pretty, but they like to stick together. There’d be no figure skating without sequins. Sequins were originally made out of tiny metal discs, but today they're commonly made from shiny circles of plastic. The original sequins explain the name, which stems from their resemblance to coins; sequin was the 17th century name of an Italian gold coin. Today's sequins are used to decorate clothes, shoes, handbags, and anything else that needs extra sparkles.
Vocabulary lists containing sequin
Mardi Gras: Fun
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The Night Diary
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Nine Stories
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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.
Nicole Kidman showed up in a red sequin dress because she “wanted to embrace the way in which red has been used in art through the years.”
From Salon • May 6, 2026
In her sequin blazer, red pants, black boots, bow tie and wide-brim hat, the 11-year-old mirrored his musical gestures, never missing a beat.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026
Among the pieces that she had teased on social media were a sewing machine, a steamer, lamps, a “tiny side table,” a sequin romper, and a Bergdorf Goodman jacket.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 13, 2025
Moore understood the assignment for the Met Gala, coming as a literal men's tie in a sculptural black and white striped sequin gown from Thom Browne.
From BBC • May 5, 2025
The rock walls of Pu‘okinau-o-mahuka heiau, a dark and powerful dash. Someone’s swimming pool is a sequin sparkling in the moonlight. And finally Tūtū’s and my lo‘i laid out in neat terraces.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
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.
