What does "accessory" mean?
Something that belongs to part of another main thing; something additional and subordinate, an attachment.
Accessory
/əkˈsɛs(ə)ɹi/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Something that belongs to part of another main thing; something additional and subordinate, an attachment.
- Grammar: accessory is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: supplement, a party to, abettor, abettor.
- Useful contrasts: central, essential, essential item.
- Usage evidence: That glittering accessory doesn't go with your sweatshirt. Try this on!
How to use "accessory"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "accessory" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "accessory" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "accessory" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "accessory" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "accessory" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "supplement" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "accessory", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Something that belongs to part of another main thing; something additional and subordinate, an attachment.
"the accessories of a mobile phone"
- 2 a supplementary component that improves capability wordnet
- 3 An article that completes one's basic outfit, such as a scarf or gloves.
"One of the first of a wave of American women contemporary designers who emerged in the 1990s, she [Kate Spade] built a brand on the appeal of clothes and accessories that made shoppers smile."
- 4 clothing that is worn or carried, but not part of your main clothing wordnet
- 5 A person who is not present at a crime, but contributes to it as an assistant or instigator.
"She was an accessory to the murder because she helped him commit and probably also conceal the crime."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 someone who helps another person commit a crime wordnet
- 7 Something in a work of art without being indispensably necessary, for example solely ornamental parts.
Adjective
- 1 Having a secondary, supplementary or subordinate function by accompanying as a subordinate; aiding in a secondary way; being additional; contributing or being contributory.
"accessory garments"
- 2 Assisting a crime without actually participating in committing the crime itself; being connected as an incident or subordinate to a principal.
"Her actions were clearly accessory because they helped him commit and probably also conceal the crime."
- 3 Present in a minor amount, and not essential.
"accessory mineral"
- 4 Supernumerary and generally nonfunctional.
"She had an accessory finger on one hand."
Adjective
- 1 furnishing added support wordnet
- 2 aiding and abetting in a crime wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"That glittering accessory doesn't go with your sweatshirt. Try this on!"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "accessory"?
Common synonyms include: supplement, a party to, abettor, abettor, accessary, accessary.
How do you use "accessory" in a sentence?
That glittering accessory doesn't go with your sweatshirt. Try this on!
How do you pronounce "accessory"?
Pronounced /əkˈsɛs(ə)ɹi/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Medieval Latin accessōrius, from Latin accessor (“helper, subordinate”), from accessus. Compare access, from same root.
Etymology 2
From Middle English accessorie, from Medieval Latin accessōrius, from Latin accessor (“helper, subordinate”), from accessus. Compare access, from same root.