costume jewellery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Semi-formal to informal. Common in fashion, retail, and everyday contexts.
Quick answer
What does “costume jewellery” mean?
Jewellery made from non-precious metals, imitation gemstones, and other base materials, designed to be decorative and fashionable rather than an investment of high monetary value.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Jewellery made from non-precious metals, imitation gemstones, and other base materials, designed to be decorative and fashionable rather than an investment of high monetary value.
Inexpensive, ornamental accessories worn for fashion purposes, often imitating the style of fine jewellery. It can also refer to jewellery specifically created to complement a particular outfit or historical/fictional character attire (e.g., for theatre, film, or costume parties).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: BrE 'costume jewellery', AmE 'costume jewelry'. The concept and term are identical in meaning and equally common.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties: fashion-oriented, non-precious, often trendy.
Frequency
Equally frequent in fashion and retail contexts in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “costume jewellery” in a Sentence
[to wear] + costume jewellery[made of] + costume jewellery[a piece/collection/set] + of + costume jewellerycostume jewellery + [from/for] + [era/occasion]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “costume jewellery” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- This necklace is designed to costume a 1920s flapper outfit.
American English
- She costumed the mannequin with layers of bold jewelry.
adjective
British English
- She runs a successful costume-jewellery business.
American English
- The costume-jewelry market is booming.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in retail, e-commerce, and fashion industry descriptions to categorise product lines.
Academic
Rare in formal academia; may appear in material culture, fashion history, or theatre studies contexts.
Everyday
Common when discussing accessories, shopping, or preparing for an event.
Technical
Used in gemmology and jewellery trade to distinguish from items made with precious metals and stones.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “costume jewellery”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “costume jewellery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “costume jewellery”
- Misspelling 'jewellery' as 'jewelry' in British contexts and vice versa.
- Using 'costume' as a verb in relation to the jewellery (e.g., 'I costumed jewellery' is incorrect).
- Confusing it with 'theatrical jewellery', which is a more specific subset.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Fake jewellery' implies deception, pretending to be real. 'Costume jewellery' is an honest category of fashionable, non-precious accessories, not intended to deceive about its value.
Yes. While not valuable for its materials, certain pieces from renowned designers (e.g., Chanel, Miriam Haskell) or specific eras can be highly collectible and command significant prices.
They are largely synonymous in modern use. Historically, 'costume jewellery' had stronger links to complementing a specific outfit or costume, while 'fashion jewellery' is a broader, more contemporary term for trendy, inexpensive accessories.
In British English, it is pronounced as two syllables: 'JOO-uhl-ree' /ˈdʒuːəlri/. The American 'jewelry' is pronounced with two syllables: 'JOOL-ree' /ˈdʒuːəlri/.
Jewellery made from non-precious metals, imitation gemstones, and other base materials, designed to be decorative and fashionable rather than an investment of high monetary value.
Costume jewellery is usually semi-formal to informal. common in fashion, retail, and everyday contexts. in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “All that glitters is not gold (a proverbial reference relevant to costume jewellery)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a theatrical COSTUME. The jewellery you wear with it isn't real gold, it's just part of the COSTUME. Hence, COSTUME jewellery is for the 'outfit', not for investment.
Conceptual Metaphor
FASHION IS DISPOSABLE / DECORATION IS TEMPORARY (contrasted with VALUE IS PERMANENT for fine jewellery).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary characteristic of costume jewellery?