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Definition of epaulet
epaulet
/ˈɛp.ə.lɛt/
(UK: epaulette)
ep · au · let
Plural:epaulets
epaulet Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
epaulet Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
An ornamental shoulder piece on an item of clothing, typically placed on the coat or jacket of a military or organizational uniform to indicate rank.
Example
"The admiral stood at attention, the heavy gold fringe of his epaulets gleaming in the afternoon sun."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for epauletWord Nuance & Usage
This word is frequently spelled 'epaulette' in British English and across international historical contexts.
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from French 'épaulette', a diminutive of 'épaule' (shoulder), which ultimately traces back to the Late Latin 'spatula' meaning 'shoulder blade'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Epaulet. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/epaulet