sequin

American  

[see-kwin] / ˈsi kwɪn /

Italian zecchino

noun

sequins plural

1. a small shining disk or spangle used for ornamentation, as on clothing, accessories, or theatrical costumes.

2. a former gold coin of Venice, introduced in 1284; ducat.

3. a former gold coin of Malta, introduced c1535.

4. a former gold coin of Turkey, introduced in 1478.

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sequin British  

/ ˈsiːkwɪn /

noun

1. a small piece of shiny often coloured metal foil or plastic, usually round, used to decorate garments, etc

2. Also called: zecchino.  any of various gold coins that were formerly minted in Italy, Turkey, and Malta

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• sequined
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• sequins
  plural

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 Sequins were originally made out of tiny metal discs, but today they're commonly made from shiny circles of plastic.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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sequin sequins

He walks on with a gold sequin jacket over a fresh-pressed polka-dot shirt, fuchsia bell-bottoms and yellow trucker hat and he has an Appalachian-style beard.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026

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

Grande, who plays the good witch Glinda, was decked out in a champagne pink sequin dress at the premiere while Erivo, who plays the wicked witch, wore a black tube grown embroidered with roses.

From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2025

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

At that cue, Zora in her rubber suit with the flashing green sequin scales would tumble into the tank.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

They arrived in sequins and feather boas; or sometimes in waistcoats and ties.

From BBC ● Jun. 13, 2026

Underneath the moody ensemble, Osaka wore a glittering gold tennis dress, with the sequins reflecting the scorching Paris sun.

From BBC ● May 26, 2026

Still I feel for those in long sleeves and/or tons of sequins.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 15, 2026

A week ago you may have had no idea who he was, this blonde rocket in sequins who looked like he belonged on a Frozen lunchbox.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 14, 2026

The younger class had just finished, and the store was flooded with six-year-olds, prancing for their mothers in red velvet hats and skirts sparkling with sequins of deep scarlet.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Related Words

• jewel
• tinsel