What does accessory mean?
Word: Accessory
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Accessory means an extra item that is added to something to make it more useful or attractive, such as a phone cover, a scarf or a pair of earrings.
Synonyms: extra, attachment, add-on
How do you spell accessory?
Syllables: ac - ces - so - ry
Tricky part: It has two pairs of double letters, cc and then ss. Students often drop one of them and write accesory or acessory.
Watch out for: accesory, acessory, acesory
Memory tip: Think 'cool cap, smart scarf': two c words and then two s words, just like the cc and the ss in accessory.
Accessory in a sentence
Example 1: Tanvi's favourite accessory is a bright yellow scarf she bought at a market in Paris.
Example 2: The new laptop came with a charger, but every other accessory cost extra.
Example 3: A helmet is the one cycling accessory Papa insists on before we ride to the park.
Fun Fact
Accessory comes from the Latin accessorius, 'additional', which grew out of accedere, 'to come near' or 'to be added'. So accessory and accede are word cousins.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell Spies
Choose the incorrectly spelt word:
a) stationery
b) dictionary
c) accessery
d) territory
Show answer
c) accessery. Stationery really ends in -ery and dictionary in -ary, but accessory takes -ory, as territory does.
Jumble Tumble
What is the meaning of the word that can be formed from the given letters?
ysorcesca
a) the money you earn by doing your job
b) a written list of the things you need to buy
c) a building where old objects are kept and shown
d) an extra item that adds to the use or look of something
Show answer
d) an extra item that adds to the use or look of something. Sorted out, the jumble gives accessory, the kind of extra a phone cover is.
Sound Check
In which word is 'cc' pronounced differently?
a) accident
b) accessory
c) occupy
d) vaccine
Show answer
c) occupy. In occupy the cc is a plain k sound; in accessory, accident and vaccine it is said ks.
Word Champ
Read the three statements and choose the correct option:
1. A wardrobe is a tall cupboard for hanging clothes. 2. An accessory is an extra item that adds to how something looks or works. 3. A buckel is the clasp at the end of a belt.
a) all three are true
b) only 1 and 2 are true
c) only 2 is true
d) only 2 and 3 are true
Show answer
b) only 1 and 2 are true. Statement 3 is spoilt by a spelling error: the clasp on a belt is a buckle.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A car shop would sell which of these as an accessory?
a) a seat cover
b) a traffic light
c) a toll booth
d) a petrol station
Show answer
a) a seat cover
2. In 'The dress came with matching accessories', the accessories could be ___.
a) the shop and the tailor
b) the price and the size
c) the cloth and the thread
d) a bag and a bangle
Show answer
d) a bag and a bangle
