frill

frill — noun

1. a long strip of fabric that has been pleated or gathered on one side and then st

1.nounB1
Definition

a long strip of fabric that has been pleated or gathered on one side and then stitched along a garment's border to create an ornamental finish

Example

Iris chose a blue dress with white frills around the collar for her graduation.

frills around + collar (clothing location)

The old curtains had frills that Eri's grandmother had sewn by hand decades ago.

Common collocations
  • lace frill
  • cotton frill
  • frill collar
  • frill neck
  • frill hem
  • frill trim
  • sew a frill
  • add a frill
Synonyms
  • ruffle

    a gathered trim that can be looser and wider than a frill, often used on blouses and pillows

  • flounce

    a wide strip of fabric gathered at the top, typically longer and more dramatic than a frill

  • trim

    a more general word for any decorative edging, not necessarily gathered or pleated

Usage Note

Often used in the plural (frills) when describing multiple rows or an overall decorative style. When referring to one specific trim strip, the singular is natural (a frill of lace).

Common Mistakes

She wore a frill on her skirt made of leather strips.
She wore a skirt with frills along the hem.
A frill is specifically a gathered fabric trim, not any kind of decoration or strip.
The frill of the curtain was torn, so I replaced the whole curtain.
The frill of the curtain was torn, so I sewed a new lace trim along the edge.
A damaged frill can be repaired or replaced without replacing the entire item.

2. additional features or services that make a product or experience more enjoyable

2.nounB2
Definition

additional features or services that make a product or experience more enjoyable but are not strictly necessary — commonly used in the expression 'no frills' to describe a basic, affordable version without costly extras

Example

The budget airline offers a no-frills service where meals and seat selection cost extra.

no-frills as compound adjective + service

Christopher wanted a car with all the frills, such as leather seats and a sunroof.

all the frills + such as [examples]

Common collocations
  • no frills
  • all the frills
  • add frills
  • strip away frills
  • extra frills
  • cut the frills
  • frills and extras
Synonyms
  • extras

    a neutral term for optional additions, less colourful than 'frills'

  • bells and whistles

    an informal idiom for attractive but non-essential features, more vivid and colloquial

  • luxuries

    implies higher cost and indulgence, a stronger word than 'frills'

Antonyms
  • essentials

    the basic, necessary features that frills are added to

Usage Note

Almost always appears in the plural (frills) in this sense. The compound 'no-frills' (with a hyphen) is commonly used as an adjective before a noun, especially in travel, hospitality, and retail contexts.

Common Mistakes

This phone has many frills, like a camera and a battery.
This phone has many frills, like a waterproof case and wireless charging.
Essential features (camera, battery) are not frills; frills are the optional extras beyond the basics.
The restaurant serves no-frills food, which means the dishes have no seasoning.
The restaurant serves no-frills food, which means simple dishes without expensive ingredients or fancy presentation.
'No frills' means simple and unadorned, not poor quality or lacking essential elements.

3. a ring of longer hair, feathers, or loose skin around the neck of some animals,

3.nounC1
Definition

a ring of longer hair, feathers, or loose skin around the neck of some animals, such as lizards, birds, or mammals, often used for display or protection

Example

The frill of the frilled-neck lizard opens up like a large umbrella when the animal feels threatened.

frill opens / expands (physical description of animal behaviour)

Male pigeons puff out the iridescent frill around their necks to attract a mate.

Common collocations
  • neck frill
  • facial frill
  • frilled-neck lizard
  • puff out frill
  • display frill
Synonyms
  • ruff

    a more specific term for a projecting collar of feathers or fur; 'ruff' and 'frill' are often used interchangeably in zoology

Usage Note

This sense is most commonly encountered in descriptions of reptiles (the frilled-neck lizard) and birds. In mammals it refers to a ruff of fur, as seen in some breeds of dogs or cats.

frill — verb

Word family

  • frilled
    adjectiveB1
  • frilly
    adjectiveB2
  • frilling
    nounC1
  • frill-necked
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

All three words describe non-essential additions, but they differ in tone and context. 'Extras' is the most neutral and practical term — it simply means optional items you can add or remove (e.g. 'The car comes with several extras such as heated seats'). 'Frills' carries a slightly dismissive tone, often used in the negative to praise simplicity ('a no-frills hotel'), while 'extras' does not have this flavour. 'Luxuries' implies higher cost and indulgence beyond mere convenience — a heated steering wheel is a luxury, whereas a phone charger is an extra. 'Bells and whistles' is an informal idiom that vividly suggests flashy, attention-grabbing features ('a smartphone with all the bells and whistles'). In writing, choose 'extras' for factual descriptions, 'frills' for value judgements about simplicity versus excess, 'luxuries' when emphasising expense and comfort, and 'bells and whistles' for informal or lively contexts.

extrasluxuriesbells and whistles

Common collocations

Nouns

  • lace frill
  • cotton frill
  • frill collar
  • frill neck
  • frill sleeve
  • frill hem
  • frill lizard
  • frill trim

Adverbs

  • elaborately frilled
  • delicately frilled
  • beautifully frilled

Phrases

  • no frills
  • all the frills
  • frills and extras

Prepositions

  • frill of
  • frill around
  • frill on
  • frill along

Etymology

GermanicDutch or FrisianEnglish

The word 'frill' first appeared in English in the 16th century, probably from a Germanic source related to the idea of ruffle or curl (compare Old Frisian 'frulla' and Middle Dutch 'frul' meaning a folded or gathered edge). Originally it referred to a stiff fabric collar or ruff worn around the neck. By the 18th century it described the decorative gathered trim sewn on clothing. The figurative sense of 'unnecessary extras' emerged in the late 19th century, first in American English, drawing on the idea of frills as ornamental but non-essential additions.