Meaning & use
decals
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“decals” is a form of “decal”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
Pictures, patterns or lettering printed on special paper or plastic that you stick or press onto a surface.
Grammar: Plural of decal: stick decals on the wall.
Patterns
- decals on something
- put decals on something
The kids covered their bikes in star decals.
The racing car was covered in sponsors' decals.
She bought wall decals to decorate the nursery.
nounpluralAmerican
Stickers on a window or vehicle showing that a person has a permit, belongs to a group, or has paid for parking.
Grammar: Used for official or membership stickers on cars.
Patterns
- parking decals
- a decal for something
Students must show parking decals on their windshields.
The truck had decals from every national park it visited.
Without the right decals, your car may be towed from the lot.
Word forms
| singular | decal |
|---|
Common combinations
- apply decals
- Apply the decals when the surface is clean and dry.
- wall decals
- Wall decals make it easy to change a room's look.
- vinyl decals
- Vinyl decals last longer outdoors than paper ones.
- peel off decals
- It took an hour to peel off the old decals.
- window decals
- Window decals showed the school's logo.
Synonyms and how they differ
- stickers
- Stickers is the everyday word and covers anything with adhesive backing, while decals often implies a transfer design or a more permanent sign.
- transfers
- Transfers is the British word, which strictly means designs moved from paper onto a surface.
- labels
- Labels give information such as contents or names, whereas decals are usually decorative or official.
- badges
- Badges usually are pinned or sewn on and show membership, unlike decals, which are stuck on.
Word family
Commonly confused: decals or decals?
decals vs decals
Not to be confused with decaf; decals are stickers, while decaf is coffee without caffeine.
Practice
Before the model car show, the boys carefully pressed sports ______ onto their toy cars.
Choose one answer.
Decals are stickers or transfers pressed onto surfaces. The other options are similar-looking words with unrelated meanings.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “decals”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.