stick pin: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, technical (jewellery/fashion), somewhat dated in everyday use.
Quick answer
What does “stick pin” mean?
A long, thin decorative pin with a precious stone or ornament at the top, worn as jewellery, typically in a tie or scarf.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A long, thin decorative pin with a precious stone or ornament at the top, worn as jewellery, typically in a tie or scarf.
A large, sharp pin used for fastening or securing items, especially in fabrics or as a makeshift tool. Historically also refers to a straight pin for affixing insects in an entomological collection.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, though the jewellery item is perhaps slightly more associated with traditional British formalwear.
Connotations
In both, the jewellery sense connotes formality, elegance, and potentially a bygone era. The utility sense is neutral/functional.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties. The jewellery term is recognised but not commonly used in contemporary everyday speech outside specific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “stick pin” in a Sentence
[Verb] + stick pin: wear, fasten, secure, collect, use.[Adjective] + stick pin: diamond, pearl, antique, decorative, entomological.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except perhaps in descriptions of formal business attire: 'He completed his look with a gold stick pin.'
Academic
Used in historical fashion studies, jewellery history, or entomology (for specimen mounting).
Everyday
Very low usage. Might be understood in context: 'I need a long pin to fix this curtain—like a stick pin.'
Technical
Jewellery making, tailoring, entomology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stick pin”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stick pin”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stick pin”
- Using 'stickpin' as one word (acceptable variant, but less common in UK).
- Confusing with 'stick *a* pin in...' (phrasal verb).
- Assuming it is a common, everyday item.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A stick pin is a single, long pin with a decorative head, often worn vertically through a tie or scarf. A lapel pin is typically a badge or brooch with a clutch back, worn on the lapel of a jacket.
Yes, 'stickpin' is an accepted variant, particularly in American English, though the two-word form is also standard.
Historically associated with men's formal neckwear, it can be used decoratively on women's scarves, shawls, or hats. Its use is not gender-exclusive.
A stick pin is a straight, sharp pin with a decorative head and often no closing mechanism. A safety pin has a spring and clasp to shield the point, making it safer for general use.
A long, thin decorative pin with a precious stone or ornament at the top, worn as jewellery, typically in a tie or scarf.
Stick pin is usually formal, technical (jewellery/fashion), somewhat dated in everyday use. in register.
Stick pin: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstɪk pɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstɪk pɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As sharp as a stick pin (rare, invented for illustration).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a STICK figure wearing a PIN. That stick figure is very formal, so its pin is a long, elegant STICK PIN.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRECISION IS SHARPNESS (the pin must be sharp to function); DECORATION IS ELEVATION (the ornament is elevated on a long pin).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you LEAST likely encounter the term 'stick pin'?