decoration

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   Something pretty that you add to a thing or place to make it look nicer.

   Grammar: Countable: one decoration, two decorations; often used in the plural for many small items.

   Patterns

   • a decoration for something
   • put up decorations
   • Christmas decorations

   The children made paper decorations for the classroom.

   We hung decorations all over the house for the party.

   She bought a small decoration to put on the cake.

2. 2noununcountable

   The act or style of making something look more attractive, especially in a room or building.

   Grammar: Uncountable: no plural; use with words like 'interior' or 'cake' before it.

   Patterns

   • interior decoration
   • the decoration of something
   • for decoration

   He works in interior decoration, designing rooms for hotels.

   The decoration of the church took several weeks.

   The vase is just for decoration; it doesn't hold water.

3. 3nouncountableformalmilitary

   A medal or award given to someone for bravery or service.

   Grammar: Countable, formal; often in military contexts.

   Patterns

   • a decoration for bravery
   • receive a decoration
   • a military decoration

   The soldier received a decoration for his courage in battle.

   She was awarded a decoration for her years of service.

   He wears his decorations on special occasions.

Word forms

Common combinations

Christmas decorations

We put up the Christmas decorations in early December.

cake decoration

She is very good at cake decoration.

interior decoration

He studied interior decoration in college.

a decoration for something

He got a decoration for his bravery.

Synonyms and how they differ

ornament

An ornament is usually a small, often valuable object kept for display; a decoration is broader and can be temporary, like paper chains.

trimming

Trimmings are the extra bits that finish something off, like ribbons on a hat; decoration is the more general word.

Word family

decorate verb

To add something to make a place or thing look nicer.

decorative adjective

Pretty but not necessary; used for decoration.

decorator noun

A person whose job is to paint or decorate rooms.

Commonly confused: decoration or decoration vs. decor?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “decoration”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words