Word
Definitions
01fashion or equipment
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. an extra item you wear or use to complete an outfit or a piece of equipment.
n. a subordinate or supplementary item that enhances the functionality or aesthetic of a primary object, such as clothing or hardware.
“She bought a silk scarf as an accessory for her new dress.”
“The camera comes with several accessories, including a waterproof case and a tripod, to suit different shooting environments.”
Synonyms
02legal helper in a crime
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. someone who helps another person commit a crime, but is not the main person doing it.
n. a person who assists in the commission of a crime or helps the perpetrator avoid capture, without being present as a principal actor.
“He was charged with being an accessory to the robbery because he drove the getaway car.”
“The prosecution argued that by providing the blueprints, the defendant acted as an accessory before the fact to the bank heist.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'accessory to' followed by the specific crime.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03secondary or additional
C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal
adj. describing something that is extra and not the most important part.
adj. functioning in a secondary, supplementary, or subordinate capacity to a principal element.
“The building has several accessory rooms used for storage rather than living.”
“The report focused on the primary causes of the failure, dismissing the accessory factors as statistically insignificant to the final outcome.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Microsoft : up to 15% off items such as laptops and accessories bought directly.” “When it comes to accessories, basketball caps will shade your eyes when it's sunny, but will leave your ears and neck completely exposed.” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Medieval Latin ad- Proto-Italic *kezdō Medieval Latin cēdō Medieval Latin accēdō Proto-Indo-European *-tōr Proto-Italic *-tōr Medieval Latin -tor Medieval Latin accessor Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Medieval Latin -ius Medieval Latin accessōriusbor. English accessory From Medieval Latin accessōrius, from Latin accessor (“helper, subordinate”), from accessus. Compare access, from same root.
From Middle English accessorie, from Medieval Latin accessōrius, from Latin accessor (“helper, subordinate”), from accessus. Compare access, from same root.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/accessory
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR