A piece of jewelry worn around the neck, often made of metal, beads, or stones. It can be simple or very decorative.
From 'neck' + '-lace', where '-lace' comes from Old French 'laz' meaning 'cord, string, snare'. Originally it referred to a piece of string or cord worn around the neck.
The 'lace' in 'necklace' is related to 'shoelace'—both started as simple cords before becoming decorative. Necklaces have been worn for thousands of years, sometimes as beauty, sometimes as status, and sometimes as protection charms.
Necklaces have often been coded as feminine accessories in many cultures, though men and people of all genders have worn neck ornaments throughout history. Marketing and social norms have reinforced a gendered association, especially in modern Western contexts.
Treat “necklace” as a gender-neutral item of jewelry; avoid implying that wearing a necklace is inherently feminine. When discussing fashion, reflect the diversity of people who wear necklaces.
["neck chain","pendant","neck jewelry"]
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.