embroidery

American  

[em-broi-duh-ree, -dree] / ɛmˈbrɔɪ də ri, -dri /

noun

plural

embroideries

1. the art of working raised and ornamental designs in threads of silk, cotton, gold, silver, or other material, upon any woven fabric, leather, paper, etc., with a needle.

2. embroidered work or ornamentation.

3. elaboration or embellishment, as in telling a story.

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embroidery British  

/ ɪmˈbrɔɪdərɪ /

noun

1. decorative needlework done usually on loosely woven cloth or canvas, often being a picture or pattern

2. elaboration or exaggeration, esp in writing or reporting; embellishment

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Etymology

Origin of embroidery

1350–1400; Middle English embrouderie needlework on cloth < Middle French embroud ( er ) + Middle English -erie -ery; oi from embroider

Compare meaning

How does embroidery compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cross-stitch vs. embroidery

Explanation

Embroidery is the act of decorating a piece of cloth with a stitched design. You may have seen large medieval examples of embroidery hanging on the walls of museums depicting flowers and wild animals and the like. Embroidery also has a common figurative meaning of something deceptive, or an excessive and unnecessary detail designed to mislead, or simply something vain and foolish (see embellishment.) The great American designer Buckminster Fuller summed up this sense of the word nicely: "Tombs are the clothes of the dead and a grave is a plain suit; while an expensive monument is one with embroidery."

Example Sentences

Former mill worker Linda McTigue worked in the building when she was 17 years old and worked in a department that made embroidery silk yarn.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

A growing number of overworked travelers are seeking rejuvenation in retreats and tours that focus on connection and creativity: blockprinting in Finland or India, sewing in England, embroidery in Italy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

Fortunately, Byrne’s professional life is rich enough to require no offscreen embroidery.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

"Spring flowers, tailoring and embroidery," reads a sign outside Alavi's small store, which opened in January after a months-long search for work.

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

And so while the rest of us played tag or bowl-the-hoop or had skate races down frozen canals in winter, Betsie sat and did dull grown-up things like embroidery.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• brocade
• decoration
• lace
• needlepoint
• quilting
• tapestry