‘Jewelry' or 'Jewellery': Which is Correct?

Do you buy your wife ‘jewelry’ for her birthday or ‘jewellery’? Wondering how to spell this word correctly? We’ll cover that in more detail below, plus teach you the meaning and how to use it in a sentence.

The short answer is that ‘jewelry’ is the correct spelling of the word in American and Canadian English. ‘Jewellery’ is the way most English-speaking people outside of the US and Canada spell the word (i.e., in British/UK English).

Is It Spelled ‘Jewellery’ or ‘Jewelry’?

A lot of native English speakers have trouble spelling this word, but the correct way to spell it, as you’ve just learned, is with one ‘l’ and no ‘e’ between the ‘lry’ if you’re writing for an American or Canadian audience.

However, if you’re writing for a British/UK audience, you can use ‘jewellery.’

Jewelry or Jewellery – Which is Correct? 

Now you know that both words are correct to use, just in different contexts. Only use ‘jewelry’ with Canadian or US audiences.

Let’s define the word before we take a look at how to use it in a sentence correctly.

Definition and Meaning of ‘Jewelry’ 

The Merriam-Webster definition of the word is: “ornamental pieces (such as rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets) that are made of materials which may or may not be precious (such as gold, silver, glass, and plastic), are often set with genuine or imitation gems, and are worn for personal adornment.”

The Cambridge definition of the word is: “decorative objects worn on your clothes or body that are usually made from valuable metals, such as gold and silver and precious stones.”

The first known use of the word was in 1624, and the meaning remains unchanged.

How to Use ‘Jewelry’ or 'Jewellery' in a Sentence 

Now that we know what the word means and the correct way to spell it, let’s see some examples of how to use the word in a sentence.

• I lost my favorite piece of jewelry at the game last night – a necklace from my grandma.
• My family likes to pass down jewelry to all the women.
• I can’t believe you paid $10,000 for a piece of jewelry.
• I took my wife on a jewelry shopping spree.
• Mr. Hampton bought his wife, a very fine piece of jewelry from Cartier.
• I got three pieces of jewelry for my first wedding anniversary – my husband is so generous!
• I’m grateful for the jewelry my boyfriend got me for my birthday.
• Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, so why not get her a nice piece of jewelry?

Remember, the words mean the same thing, so you can use them interchangeably when writing for different audiences.

Final Advice on ‘Jewelry’

In closing, you know that the only correct spelling of the word is ‘jewelry.’ Any other spelling of the word would be incorrect. Unlike some words, it has no British counterpart, even though it seems like the double ‘l’ is common in British English versions of American English words.

If you ever forget this, you can always come back here to jog your memory. We’ve created an entire library of content that covers confusing words and phrases you might encounter while learning the language.