What does coronet mean?
A coronet is a small crown, most specifically the ceremonial headpiece worn by members of the British peerage whose rank falls below that of the reigning monarch — dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, and barons each have distinctively designed coronets. Unlike a full royal crown, a coronet is typically an open circlet without arches, often made of silver-gilt and decorated with symbolic elements such as crosses, strawberry leaves, or pearls according to the wearer's title. The word also describes any ornamental wreath or garland encircling the head, particularly one made of flowers, as when a bride wears a coronet of blossoms. Figuratively, it can denote an emblem of honour or distinction. Derived through Old French from Latin 'corona', meaning crown or garland, it shares its ancestry with words like 'coronation' and 'corollary'. The term appears most often in formal, heraldic, historical, and literary writing.
nounA small or relatively simple crown, especially one worn by nobility below the rank of sovereign; also, a circular ornamental band or garland of flowers worn on the head.
- A small crown worn by members of the nobility ranking below the sovereign.
- An ornamental wreath or garland worn around the head, especially one of flowers.
- (Figurative) A mark or symbol of high rank, dignity, or honour.
"At the state opening of Parliament, the duchess wore her ancestral coronet beneath a velvet mantle."
"The earl's coronet, with its row of silver pearls, was carried ahead of him in the procession."
"The bride wore a delicate coronet of orange blossom woven into her veil."
Regular plural formation.
"The display case held a collection of ducal coronets from the seventeenth century."
In British heraldry, the number and shape of the points on a coronet tell you exactly how senior the wearer's title is — you can read someone's rank right off their head.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coronet
Coronet entered English in the early 15th century from Old French 'coronete', a diminutive of 'corone' (crown), which itself derives from Latin 'corona', meaning crown, wreath, or garland. The same Latin root produced English cognates including 'coronation', 'coroner' (originally an officer of the crown), and 'corolla'. The word has retained its core sense of a lesser or smaller form of crown since its earliest recorded use.
How coronet is actually used
Formal register; chiefly found in heraldic, historical, literary, and ceremonial contexts. In British usage it carries precise heraldic meaning tied to specific ranks of the peerage. The floral sense ('a coronet of flowers') is somewhat literary but common in wedding and descriptive writing.
Easily confused with coronet
A cornet is a brass musical instrument resembling a small trumpet (or formerly a cone-shaped pastry), whereas a coronet is a small crown.
A crown is the full ceremonial headpiece worn by a monarch, while a coronet is its smaller counterpart denoting lesser rank such as duke, earl, or baron.