trinket
Americannoun
-
a small ornament, piece of jewelry, etc., usually of little value.
-
anything of trivial value.
verb (used without object)
noun
-
a small or worthless ornament or piece of jewellery
-
a trivial object; trifle
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of trinket
First recorded in 1525–35; origin uncertain
Explanation
The word trinket refers to an inexpensive, flashy ornament or piece of jewelry. A rhinestone brooch to pin to your jacket is a showy trinket that won't break the bank. Trinkets aren't always made to be worn like jewelry. The word trinket can also refer to novelty items such as silly magnets with sayings on them or keepsake spoons. If you've ever stopped into a store at the airport that sells goods like keychains, mugs, and buttons, then you've seen trinkets. Trinkets are often purchased on a vacation — they're small enough to stick into your pockets before you board the plane home.
Vocabulary lists containing trinket
Lyrical vocabulary: Return to the '70s
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Mardi Gras: Fun
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"Rules of the Game" (from The Joy Luck Club) by Amy Tan
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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.
Trinket news: Trent Alexander-Arnold has been named Premier League player of the month for November, as the great Year Of The Full-Back continues.
From The Guardian • Dec. 10, 2021
Tens of square kilometers of land sank under the water because of rupture and submergence; the beautiful island of Trinket broke into three pieces.
From Scientific American • Mar. 25, 2020
At the Sochi Games in 2014, where he also acted as a correspondent for NBC, Weir channeled the fabulous Effie Trinket, wearing a bold, color-block suit with green-and-gold accents to match.
From Slate • Feb. 23, 2018
And for the movie-going audience, Lucy Mirando’s rendering as a cartoon character villain — somewhere between Ivanka Trump and Effie Trinket — works because the film takes the perspective of a child.
From Salon • Jun. 26, 2017
Suddenly he falls into a Capitol accent as he mimics Effie Trinket, the maniacally upbeat woman who arrives once a year to read out the names at the leaping.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
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.
