noun

faience

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Faience (noun) means a tin-glazed earthenware ceramic used for tableware and as a decorative material in architecture. Example: “The museum's collection includes brightly painted faience plates.”

noun

A tin-glazed earthenware ceramic used for tableware and as a decorative material in architecture.

"The museum's collection includes brightly painted faience plates."

"The building's facade was decorated with panels of faience."

"She collects antique faience from small European workshops."

archaeology In archaeology, small beads or ornaments made from frit, produced in the eastern Mediterranean during the Bronze and Iron Ages.

"The dig uncovered strings of faience beads from a Bronze Age burial."

"Faience ornaments were common grave goods in the ancient eastern Mediterranean."

"Archaeologists dated the site partly by the style of its faience."

How to use faience

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFaience is a glazed pottery known for its bright colours, used for both everyday tableware and decoration.

When to use it

It is a specialist term found in ceramics, art history and archaeology writing.

Memory tip

Faience and fiancée sound alike but are unrelated; keep them apart in spelling and meaning.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

fiancée

Common pairings

faience tile faience beads glazed faience Egyptian faience

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “faience” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The museum's collection includes brightly painted _____ plates.

Etymology

The word was borrowed from French faience, named after the Italian city of Faenza, where this type of ceramic was made in the sixteenth century.

Origin: French

Rhymes for faience

hence fence whence thence Spence valence absence science silence defence essence ambience

See all rhymes for faience →

Frequently asked questions

What is faience made of?

It is a tin-glazed earthenware ceramic, and in archaeology the term also covers small beads and ornaments made from frit.

Why is faience called that?

The name comes from the Italian city of Faenza, where this kind of ceramic was produced in the sixteenth century.

Is faience the same as majolica?

The grounding cross-references majolica as a related term but does not describe how the two relate, so no relationship can be stated here.

What is the meaning of faience?

"faience" (noun) means a tin-glazed earthenware ceramic used for tableware and as a decorative material in architecture.