What does "diadem" mean?
An ornamental headband worn as a badge of royalty.
Diadem
/ˈdaɪ.ədɛm/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An ornamental headband worn as a badge of royalty.
- Grammar: diadem is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: crown, adorn, anklet, annular muscle.
- Useful contrasts: bare head, dethrone, humble position.
- Usage evidence: Therewith the royal sceptre, which of yore / Ilione, Priam's eldest daughter, bore; / her shining necklace, strung with costly beads, / and diadem, rimmed with gold and studded o'er / with sparkling gems. Thus charged, Achates heeds, / and towards the ships forthwith in eager haste proceeds.
How to use "diadem"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "diadem" 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 "diadem" 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 "diadem" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "diadem" 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 "diadem" is acting as noun, verb 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 "crown" 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.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "diadem", 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 An ornamental headband worn as a badge of royalty.
"The Apollon wing of the Louvre has a set of historic crowns, diadems and sovereign jewellery."
- 2 an ornamental jeweled headdress signifying sovereignty wordnet
- 3 A crown.
"And vvhen the princely Perſean Diadem, / Shall ouervveigh his vvearie vvitleſſe head, / And fall like mellovved fruit, vvith ſhakes of death, / In faire Perſea noble Tamburlain / Shall be my Regent, and remaine as King:"
- 4 Regal power; sovereignty; empire—considered as symbolized by the crown.
- 5 An arch rising from the rim of a crown (rarely also of a coronet), and uniting with others over its centre.
Verb
- 1 To adorn with a diadem; to crown.
"The star of her destiny is the morning star of the new-born century. O’er the Golden Gate it glitters, diademming this youthful Queen of the Pacific in her robes of freedom gorgeously inlaid with gold."
Example
"Therewith the royal sceptre, which of yore / Ilione, Priam's eldest daughter, bore; / her shining necklace, strung with costly beads, / and diadem, rimmed with gold and studded o'er / with sparkling gems. Thus charged, Achates heeds, / and towards the ships forthwith in eager haste proceeds."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "diadem"?
Common synonyms include: crown, adorn, anklet, annular muscle, annulus, areola.
How do you use "diadem" in a sentence?
Therewith the royal sceptre, which of yore / Ilione, Priam's eldest daughter, bore; / her shining necklace, strung with costly beads, / and diadem, rimmed with gold and studded o'er / with sparkling gems. Thus charged, Achates heeds, / and towards the ships forthwith in eager haste proceeds.
How do you pronounce "diadem"?
Pronounced /ˈdaɪ.ədɛm/.
Etymology
From Middle English diademe, dyademe, from Old French diademe, from Latin diadēma, from Ancient Greek διάδημα (diádēma, “band, especially worn around a tiara”), from διαδέω (diadéō, “bind around”).