variants
or less commonly nicknack
plural knickknacks also nicknacks
: a small trivial article usually intended for ornament
a collection of colorful knickknacks
Known in the computer industry as tchotchkes, which is Yiddish for cheap trinkets, the knickknacks distributed in the past year have included "Love Me Tender" toilet-roll dispensers, wax eyeballs, chocolate computers and Nerf-ball launchers.—
Jim Carlton
Jim CarltonMelissa Etheridge's spacious two-story home outside Los Angeles is filled with knickknacks from her life: Aside from awards and photos, there is a small collection of vintage neon clocks … and a Thelma & Louise poster signed by the cast (including a then-unknown Brad Pitt).—Lynette Rice
Lynette RiceSynonyms
Examples of knickknack in a Sentence
The shelves were filled with knickknacks.
a variety of pretty porcelain knickknacks adorned the mantel
Recent Examples on the Web
Take a stroll through Condé Nast’s halls, where staffers draw inspiration from the spring/summer 2025 collections and replace boughs of holly with knickknacks and doodads dangling from their everyday bags.
—Ciarra Lorren Zatorski, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2024
Score discounts on Christmas trees, holiday knickknacks, festive wreaths, and more while these limited-time offers last.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
That’s Crazy is worth a spin to peruse oddities, knickknacks, and The Walking Dead production clothing and props.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 2024
One of Red Light’s closest neighbors, Gargoyles Statuary, is a dark, cozy store that truly embodies the Ave’s funky spirit with spooky wares like Gothic art, pagan knickknacks and sculptures of various sizes.
—Mike Seely, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for knickknack 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Ciarra Lorren Zatorski, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2024
Score discounts on Christmas trees, holiday knickknacks, festive wreaths, and more while these limited-time offers last.
—Clara McMahon, People.com, 2 Dec. 2024
That’s Crazy is worth a spin to peruse oddities, knickknacks, and The Walking Dead production clothing and props.
—Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 29 Nov. 2024
One of Red Light’s closest neighbors, Gargoyles Statuary, is a dark, cozy store that truly embodies the Ave’s funky spirit with spooky wares like Gothic art, pagan knickknacks and sculptures of various sizes.
—Mike Seely, New York Times, 29 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for knickknack
Articles Related to knickknack
Dictionary Entries Near knickknack
Cite this Entry
“Knickknack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/knickknack. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
knickknack
noun
knick·knack
ˈnik-ˌnak 
: a small ornamental object
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share