1 accouterment | Definition of accouterment
Logo
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

accoutrement

noun
ac·​cou·​tre·​ment | \ É™-ˈkü-trÉ™-mÉ™nt How to pronounce accoutrement (audio) , -ˈkü-tÉ™r-mÉ™nt\
variants: or accouterment

Definition of accoutrement

1a : equipment, trappings specifically : a soldier's outfit usually not including clothes and weapons —usually used in plural
b : an accessory item of clothing or equipment —usually used in plural Shops offering the physical accoutrements of polite manners—lace, gloves, linen underclothing, snuff, and gentleman's powdered wigs …— Arthur Herman
2 : an identifying and often superficial characteristic or device —usually used in plural … some of the other accouterments of power that define our diplomacy.— Elizabeth Drew
3 archaic : the act of accoutring
Synonyms Tracing Accoutrement Back to Old French Example Sentences Learn More about accoutrement

Keep scrolling for more

Tracing Accoutrement Back to Old French

Accoutrement and its relative "accoutre," a verb meaning "to provide with equipment or furnishings" or "to outfit," have been appearing in English texts since the 16th century. Today both words have variant spellings - "accouterment" and "accouter." Their French ancestor, accoutrer, descends from an Old French word meaning "seam" and ultimately traces to the Latin word consuere, meaning "to sew together." You probably won’t be too surprised to learn that "consuere" is also an ancestor of couture, meaning "the business of designing fashionable custom-made women's clothing."

Examples of accoutrement in a Sentence

this vacuum cleaner has all of the accoutrements for cleaning furniture as well as floors has all the accoutrements that the home pastry chef could ever want

Recent Examples on the Web

 Plenty of stores are slated to stay open, so people can still get all their holiday accoutrements before sundown. — Wilder Davies, Time, "Here's Everything That's Open and Closed on July 4th 2019," 3 July 2019 Though the luxury label already offers accoutrements such as band rings, necklaces and cuffs, the new pieces mark the brand's first comprehensive men's collection. — Danielle Directo-meston, The Hollywood Reporter, "Shop Talk: Meghan Markle-Loved Label Everlane's First L.A. Store, Rolling Stones Collab Designs at Maxfield," 23 Aug. 2019 The movie begins with a broader view of this trend, presenting the latest mourning accoutrements being sold at a funeral convention. — Annika Neklason, The Atlantic, "HBO’s New Documentary Asks You to Talk About Death," 20 Aug. 2019 For a few dollars more, customers can get accoutrements such as Bluetooth speakers, board games and flower bouquets. — Eun-young Jeong, WSJ, "Newest Camping Adventure: During the Day and in the City," 18 June 2019 Beside her in the carriage, the first in the royal procession, Queen Elizabeth II wore a cornflower hat with rose accoutrements and matching coat and dress. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Queen Maxima of the Netherlands Is Killing the Hat Game at the Royal Ascot," 18 June 2019 Last night, Paltrow and Stuart Weitzman welcomed a stylish crew, including Amy Astley, Jennifer Fisher, and Lauren Santo Domingo, into her lifestyle emporium, appointed with every elegant accoutrement a Goopie could want. — Edward Barsamian, Vogue, "Gwyneth Paltrow Celebrates Goop Lab’s New York Arrival," 15 Nov. 2018 There are a handful of conventional recipes in this book—a few sauces, a coleslaw, some beef ribs, your usual barbecue accoutrements. — Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, "The Best Cookbooks of the Century So Far," 14 July 2019 Although a basic float can cost $20,000, MGW spokesperson Brooke Pickett notes that the price tag for signature (permanent) floats featuring fiber-optic lights, smoke machines, animatronics and other accoutrements can run into the millions. — John Bordsen, USA TODAY, "Mardi Gras World: Experience Fat Tuesday whenever you feel like visiting New Orleans," 28 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accoutrement.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of accoutrement

circa 1550, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for accoutrement

borrowed from Middle French accoutrement, accoustrement, from accoutrer "to accoutre" + -ment -ment

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for accoutrement

accoutrement

noun
How to pronounce accoutrement (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of accoutrement

: a piece of clothing or equipment that is used in a particular place or for a particular activity

See the full definition for accoutrement in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on accoutrement

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for accoutrement

Nglish: Translation of accoutrement for Spanish Speakers

WORD OF THE DAY

See Definitions and Examples

Get Word of the Day daily email!