tiara

American  

[tee-ar-uh, -ahr-uh, -air-uh] / tiˈær ə, -ˈɑr ə, -ˈɛər ə /

noun

tiaras plural

1. a jeweled, ornamental coronet worn by women.

2. Roman Catholic Church. a head-piece consisting of three coronets on top of which is an orb and a cross, worn by the pope, or carried before him during certain nonliturgical functions.

3. the position, authority, and dignity of the pope.

4. a high headdress, or turban, worn by the ancient Persians and others.

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tiara British  

/ tɪˈɑːrə /

noun

1. a woman's semicircular jewelled headdress for formal occasions

2. a high headdress worn by Persian kings in ancient times

3. RC Church

   1. a headdress worn by the pope, consisting of a beehive-shaped diadem surrounded by three coronets

   2. the office or rank of pope

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• tiaraed
  adjective
• tiaralike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• tiaras
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tiara

1545–55; < Latin: headdress < Greek tiā́ra kind of turban

Explanation

A very simple crown, sort of a fancy headband ornamented with jewels, is called a tiara. Your little sister might wear a tiara on her birthday — or just for fun. The words tiara and diadem are used interchangeably for decorative crowns that have historically been worn by high-status people. The word tiara comes from a Persian root, and was originally used specifically to mean "headdress of Persian kings." Today you're most likely to spot tiaras gracing the heads of cartoon princesses like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tiara tiaras

I did have a tiara, but I didn’t bring it because I didn’t want to be too much.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026

The first she said was taking a dress you already have and adding accessories such as nice jewellery, a tiara or a handbag.

From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2026

Roan’s fiery hair is piled in a foot-high bouffant above a rhinestone tiara, her face layered in kabuki-like powder.

From Salon ● Feb. 19, 2026

They also grabbed the diamond-studded crown of Empress Eugenie, a tiara punctuated with sapphires and several other pieces.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2025

On the streets she dragged us to the counters of each and every jeweler, peering into glass cases, seeking our opinions of tiara designs and locket settings.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

If the thieves who dropped Empress Eugenie’s crown outside the Louvre during this year’s heist, sparked an interest in jeweled headgear, try this encyclopedic guide to the world’s most famous tiaras.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 28, 2025

"The tiaras take about two hours each," she told BBC London.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2025

Exquisite gowns and tiaras shine in the electric “display of illumination” – Bertha’s fancy description for strings of garden lights – brightening the sumptuous garden.

From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2025

But is there an appetite for street parties and a royal pageant, which will see the country shut down to allow us to watch the parade of golden carriages and diamond tiaras on TV?

From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2023

There were fancy dresses made of silk and velvet and chiffon, men’s breeches and brocade vests, miles of taffeta and endless lengths of ribbon, and countless boxes of tiaras and leather slippers.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• headband
• headdress