accessory
Americannoun
plural
accessories-
a subordinate or supplementary part, object, or the like, used mainly for convenience, attractiveness, safety, etc., as a spotlight on an automobile or a lens cover on a camera.
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an article or set of articles of dress, as gloves, earrings, or a scarf, that adds completeness, convenience, attractiveness, etc., to one's basic outfit.
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Law.
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Also called accessory before the fact. a person who, though not present during the commission of a felony, is guilty of having aided and abetted another, who committed the felony.
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Also called accessory after the fact. a person who knowingly conceals or assists another who has committed a felony.
- Synonyms:
- accomplice
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Anatomy. accessory nerve.
adjective
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contributing to a general effect; supplementary; subsidiary.
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Law. giving aid as an accessory.
noun
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a supplementary part or object, as of a car, appliance, etc
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(often plural) a small accompanying item of dress, esp of women's dress
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a person who incites someone to commit a crime or assists the perpetrator of a crime, either before or during its commission
adjective
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supplementary; additional; subordinate
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assisting in or having knowledge of an act, esp a crime
Related Words
See addition.
Other Word Forms
- accessorial adjective
- accessorily adverb
- accessoriness noun
- interaccessory adjective
- nonaccessory adjective
Etymology
Origin of accessory
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English accessorie (from Middle French ), from Medieval Latin accessōrius. See accede, -tory 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And on my way out, I grabbed a whole pile of coordinating cold-weather accessories.
From Literature
The company, founded in 1948, is known for its emblematic sneakers such as the Speedcat and its lunging feline logo, and makes athletic wear, accessories and equipment.
From Los Angeles Times
Management has said they expect that figure to drop significantly in 2026, when factoring out last year’s acquisition of Kurt Geiger, which makes handbags, footwear and other accessories.
From MarketWatch
Another new arrival, Executive Creative Director Stuart Vevers, had just designed Coach’s first ready-to-wear clothing line, expanding its portfolio beyond bags and accessories.
Cabbages, namely their undulating cross-section patterns, have appeared as designs in outerwear and accessories.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
