English Reference
Noun

embellishment

n. C / U
C1 Advanced US /ɛmˈbɛɫɪʃmənt/ UK /ɛmbˈɛlɪʃmənt/ em·bel·lish·ment UK spelling embellishment's, embellishment's

n.an extra detail or decoration added to something to make it look more attractive. It can also mean adding extra facts to a story to make it more interesting, even if they are not true.

n.an ornamental addition or decorative detail intended to enhance the appearance of an object. In a narrative context, it refers to the addition of extraneous or fictional details to a story.


SIMPLE

The dress has a beautiful silver embellishment on the collar.

CONTEXTUAL

The architect suggested adding a decorative embellishment to the ceiling to match the existing wallpaper.

COMPLEX

While the core facts of the report were accurate, the author's embellishment of the protagonist's personal life led to significant criticism from the historical community.

The oberek no longer needs to be a reference or a folkloric embellishment – it is becoming the language of modern creativity.

The Guardian· 25 Aug 2026

If anything, those with greater institutional privilege are more likely to get away with exaggerations, embellishments and even falsehoods on their CVs and promotion applications.

The Guardian· 7 Aug 2026

From embellish + -ment.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated