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sterling silver

British  

noun

  1. an alloy containing not less than 92.5 per cent of silver, the remainder usually being copper

  2. sterling-silver articles collectively

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
sterling silver Scientific  
/ stûr′lĭng /

  1. An alloy that contains at least 92.5 percent silver and up to 7.5 percent copper or another metal, used to make jewelry and silverware.

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 biggest one for McIlroy is less tangible than the Green Jacket in the wardrobe, the sterling silver replica trophy on the mantelpiece, or the reserved spot in the car park.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

Other highlights include a sterling silver exemplar of “Box of Smile,” which is a small box containing a mirror inside.

From Salon • Nov. 25, 2025

She has an eagle eye for clothing with “100% cotton” on the tag or sterling silver jewelry stamped with a tiny “925,” indicating the quality of material.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 19, 2025

When he put it on his index finger, it looked like he had a diamond and sterling silver tennis ball on his hand.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 23, 2024

Each of them was awarded a small sterling silver pin that was a replica of a cell door with a heart-shaped lock.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

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.