bangle

IPA/ˈbæŋɡl/
KK[bˈæŋɡəl]IPA/ˈbæŋɡl/

bangle — noun

  • banglesingular
  • banglesplural

1. A piece of jewellery made from a hard material such as metal, wood, or glass, fo

1.nounB1
Definition

A piece of jewellery made from a hard material such as metal, wood, or glass, formed into a complete circle that has no opening or clasp and is worn around the wrist or arm.

Example

Theo bought a silver bangle for his mother's birthday and had it engraved with her initials.

bought a silver bangle for

Kavya's glass bangles made a soft clinking sound as she moved her hands while cooking.

glass bangles made a soft clinking sound

Common collocations
  • gold bangle
  • silver bangle
  • glass bangle
  • wooden bangle
  • plastic bangle
  • wear a bangle
  • slip on a bangle
  • stack bangles
  • jewellery bangle
  • antique bangle
Synonyms
  • bracelet

    a wider term for any jewellery worn around the wrist, including both rigid bangles and flexible chains or bands

  • cuff

    a type of wide, open-ended bracelet that can be pinched to fit the wrist; unlike a bangle, a cuff has an opening

  • armlet

    a similar ring-shaped ornament worn higher on the upper arm rather than the wrist

Grammar Patterns

bangle + is worn/slid on

a + [material] + bangle

Usage Note

A bangle is different from a bracelet because it is rigid and has no clasp — it must be slipped over the hand. 'Bangle' is also used in the compound 'bangle bracelet', though this is sometimes considered redundant.

Common Mistakes

She fastened the silver bangle around her wrist.
She slipped the silver bangle over her hand and onto her wrist.
Bangles have no clasp and cannot be fastened; they must be slid on.
He gave her a leather bangle.
He gave her a leather bracelet.
Bangles are made from rigid materials like metal, wood, or glass, not flexible materials like leather or fabric.

Word family

  • bangled
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All these words refer to jewellery worn around the arm or wrist. A 'bangle' is a rigid, circular band with no opening or clasp, made from hard materials like metal, wood, or glass — common in South Asian jewellery traditions. A 'bracelet' is the broadest term and includes both rigid bangles and flexible chains, leather bands, or beaded strings, often with a clasp. A 'cuff' is a wide bracelet that has an opening and is narrow enough to pinch onto the wrist. An 'armlet' is worn higher up, around the upper arm. 'Bangle bracelet' is a compound sometimes used in Western retail to describe a bangle, though many consider it redundant. For example: 'She stacked three silver bangles on her left wrist' suggests rigid rings; 'She wore a leather bracelet with a brass buckle' suggests a flexible band with a fastener.

bracelet ↗cuff ↗armletbangle bracelet

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • a set of bangles
  • a stack of bangles
  • a pair of bangles
  • wear bangles
  • slip on a bangle

Prepositions

Etymology

SanskritHindiEnglish

Bangle entered English in the late 18th century from Hindi 'bangṛī' (बंगड़ी), which means a glass bracelet or ring. The word travelled to Britain during the colonial period alongside descriptions of Indian jewellery traditions, where glass bangles have been worn for centuries as both decoration and symbols of marriage.