passementerie: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, technical, historical
Quick answer
What does “passementerie” mean?
Ornamental trimming for clothing or furnishings, such as braid, tassels, or beading.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Ornamental trimming for clothing or furnishings, such as braid, tassels, or beading.
The art or craft of making ornamental trimmings; also refers to trimmings used in interior decoration, especially on curtains, cushions, or upholstery.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally rare and specialized in both variants.
Connotations
In both variants, it connotes luxury, historical detail, and high-end craftsmanship.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Slightly more likely to be encountered in UK texts related to historical costume or antique furnishings.
Grammar
How to Use “passementerie” in a Sentence
[furnishing/clothing/gown] decorated with passementeriepassementerie of [gold/silk]passementerie on [the edge/the curtain/the bodice]the art of passementerieVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “passementerie” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The historical gown was passementeried with intricate silk braid.
- She specialises in passementerieing luxury cushions.
American English
- The designer passementeried the hem of the curtain with gold thread.
- They offer a service to passementerie your heirloom furniture.
adverb
British English
- The fabric was adorned passementerie-style.
- It was decorated rather passementerie.
American English
- The drapery was finished passementerie-fashion.
- The costume was overly passementerie for modern tastes.
adjective
British English
- The passementerie details were exquisitely crafted.
- A passementerie workshop in London.
American English
- The passementerie trim added a regal touch.
- She studied passementerie techniques in France.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the textile, luxury furnishing, or fashion industries to specify a product type.
Academic
Used in history of art, fashion history, material culture studies, and textiles research.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Precise term in dressmaking, upholstery, curtain-making, and conservation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “passementerie”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “passementerie”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “passementerie”
- Misspelling: 'passamenterie', 'passementary'.
- Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable heavily (/PAS-men-tree/) in American English.
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'a passementerie') – it is generally uncountable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a loanword from French, entering English in the 16th century. It comes from the French 'passement', meaning 'braid' or 'trim'.
Typically, no. It is a collective or mass noun referring to the category or craft of such trimmings. You would refer to 'a piece of passementerie' or 'passementerie trims'.
Historians, costume designers, upholsterers, interior decorators specialising in period styles, textile conservators, and luxury fashion designers.
'Decorative trim' or 'ornamental braid' are the most accessible paraphrases.
Passementerie is usually formal, technical, historical in register.
Passementerie: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpæs.mən.tri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpæs.mən.təˈriː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PASS a MENagerie of TRImming' – you pass by a collection of decorative trims.
Conceptual Metaphor
DECORATION IS LUXURY/WEALTH.
Practice
Quiz
In which context are you LEAST likely to encounter the word 'passementerie'?