gaudery: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Rare / LiteraryFormal, Literary, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “gaudery” mean?
Ostentatious, showy, or gaudy ornamentation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Ostentatious, showy, or gaudy ornamentation; showy finery.
Excessive and tasteless display, often intended to impress or attract attention.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The word is equally rare and archaic in both dialects.
Connotations
Equally pejorative in both, suggesting vulgar display.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both; slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical or literary texts, but this is marginal.
Grammar
How to Use “gaudery” in a Sentence
[the] gaudery of [noun phrase]adjective + gauderyVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rarely used in historical, literary, or cultural studies to describe vulgar display in a specific period.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used in any modern technical field.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gaudery”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gaudery”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gaudery”
- Confusing it with 'gauche' or 'gallery'. Using it as an adjective (it's a noun).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered a rare, literary, and somewhat archaic term.
Almost never. It inherently carries a negative connotation of vulgar excess and lack of taste.
'Gaudy' is the related adjective. 'Gaudery' is the noun form referring to the collective display or the items themselves that are gaudy.
Primarily in historical novels, literary criticism describing style, or academic texts analysing fashion, art, or social history focused on display and taste.
Ostentatious, showy, or gaudy ornamentation.
Gaudery is usually formal, literary, archaic in register.
Gaudery: in British English it is pronounced /ˈɡɔːdəri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈɡɔːdəri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'GAUDery' as GAUDy jewellERY: overly flashy and tasteless.
Conceptual Metaphor
VULGARITY IS EXCESSIVE ORNAMENTATION; SOCIAL PRETENCE IS GAUDY DISPLAY.
Practice
Quiz
The word 'gaudery' is best defined as: