finery

noun

fin·​ery ˈfī-nə-rē How to pronounce finery (audio)
ˈfīn-rē
plural fineries
: ornament, decoration
especially : dressy or showy clothing and jewels

Examples of finery in a Sentence

She was proud to show off her new evening finery. the guests arrived at the wedding in all their finery
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Spectators got wind of the sensible footwear concealed by the Fiesta finery and began demanding to see the shoes. Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 16 Apr. 2025 The King and Queen looked regal in their white-tie finery and blue Order of the Garter sashes then, with the Queen topping her look with the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara. Janine Henni, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025 Those just coming for the scary-movie finery need to temper expectations. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2025 The difference is that Perry Mason himself really did use his knowledge of the legal fineries to get his exculpatory evidence introduced, while Ben Matlock mostly just monologued for the jury, blowing past every objection. Noel Murray, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for finery

Word History

Etymology

fine entry 1 + -ery

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of finery was in 1647

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Finery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finery. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

finery

noun
fin·​ery ˈfīn-(ə-)rē How to pronounce finery (audio)
plural fineries
: showy clothing and jewels

More from Merriam-Webster on finery

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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