birthstone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal. Common in jewellery retail, horoscopic/lifestyle contexts, and general descriptive writing.
Quick answer
What does “birthstone” mean?
A gemstone associated with a particular month of birth, often worn as a piece of jewellery.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A gemstone associated with a particular month of birth, often worn as a piece of jewellery.
A traditional or modern gemstone designated to a birth month, believed to bring good luck or possess symbolic meaning to the wearer; may also refer broadly to the concept of assigning gems to temporal or astrological periods.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The lists of traditional/modern stones are standardised internationally, though minor historical list variations exist. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Connotations are identical: personalisation, tradition, sometimes sentimental or superstitious value.
Frequency
Equal frequency in both varieties within relevant contexts (jewellery, astrology, gifts).
Grammar
How to Use “birthstone” in a Sentence
[Possessive] + birthstone (e.g., 'My birthstone is sapphire.')the birthstone for/of [Month] (e.g., 'the birthstone for April')have [a birthstone]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “birthstone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The jeweller can birthstone any piece in our collection.
- They offer to birthstone bracelets upon request.
American English
- The service allows you to birthstone a necklace for your mother.
- We can birthstone that ring with the April gem.
adjective
British English
- She admired the birthstone chart on the wall.
- It's a popular birthstone gift idea.
American English
- The birthstone listing showed garnet for January.
- He bought a birthstone bracelet for his sister.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in marketing jewellery, personalised gifts, and luxury goods (e.g., 'Our new collection features elegant birthstone pendants.').
Academic
Rare; may appear in cultural studies, history of jewellery, or anthropological texts discussing material culture and symbolism.
Everyday
Common in conversations about birthdays, jewellery preferences, and horoscopes (e.g., 'What's your birthstone? I'm looking for a gift.').
Technical
Used in gemmology and jewellery design to categorise stones by their traditional symbolic associations rather than purely mineralogical properties.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “birthstone”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “birthstone”
- Using 'birthstone' for a gem associated with a star sign rather than a month (though overlapping occurs).
- Incorrectly capitalising: it is not a proper noun (e.g., 'Her Birthstone is an emerald.').
- Using with an incorrect preposition: 'the birthstone of January' (less common) vs. the standard 'the birthstone for January'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While largely standardised (especially the modern list by the Jewelers of America), some historical and cultural variations exist. For example, the UK may have slightly different traditional lists compared to the US or Asia.
Yes. Most months have both a 'traditional' and a 'modern' birthstone. Some months, like December, have three (turquoise, zircon, tanzanite).
No. Birthstones include both precious gems (like diamond, ruby) and semi-precious stones (like garnet, peridot), as well as organic materials like pearl and amber.
The tradition is often traced to the Biblical Breastplate of Aaron (1st Century AD) and later to 18th-century Poland, where it evolved into wearing a different gem each month. The modern standardized list was created in 1912 by the American National Association of Jewelers.
A gemstone associated with a particular month of birth, often worn as a piece of jewellery.
Birthstone is usually neutral to formal. common in jewellery retail, horoscopic/lifestyle contexts, and general descriptive writing. in register.
Birthstone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɜːθstəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɜːrθstoʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: The stone you get at BIRTH. It's like a 'birthDAY' present, but a 'birthSTONE'.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME (A MONTH) IS A MATERIAL OBJECT (A GEM).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a 'birthstone'?