decoration

The word “decoration” means the act of making something look more attractive, or an item added purely to embellish it. In plain terms, either an ornamental item added for looks, or a formal award/medal.

“Decoration” is pronounced deh-kuh-RAY-shuhn (/ˌdɛkəˈɹeɪʃən/ in IPA).

Here is “decoration” used in a sentence: “The tree was covered in tinsel and other Christmas decorations.”

Words with a similar meaning to “decoration” include adornment, embellishment, ornament, garniture, garnish and garnishment.

“Decoration” is a noun.

The word “decoration” comes from Latin. From Latin decoratio, matching French décoration; built from decorate + -ion.

“Decoration” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Decoration” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act of making something look more attractive, or an item added purely to embellish it.

Decoration is the broader term for the act of making something look more attractive or any item added purely to embellish it. An ornament is one specific type of decoration, typically a small decorative object, while decoration can also refer to a military award or honour, a sense ornament does not carry.

In a military context, a decoration refers to a medal, ribbon, or similar item awarded as an honour, especially for distinguished service. This is distinct from the everyday sense of decoration as visual embellishment.

Decoration can refer to both: it describes the act of making something look more attractive, and it also describes the individual items, such as ornaments or medals, used to achieve that effect.