plaque

/plæk/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: plaques

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Any flat, thin piece of clay, ivory, metal, etc., used for ornament, or for painting pictures upon, as a dish, plate, slab, etc., hung upon a wall; also, a smaller decoration worn by a person, such as a brooch.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A piece of flat metal with writing on it, attached to a building, monument, or other structure to remind people of a person or an event.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “plaque” mean?

Any flat, thin piece of clay, ivory, metal, etc., used for ornament, or for painting pictures upon, as a dish, plate, slab, etc., hung upon a wall; also, a smaller decoration worn by a person, such as a brooch.

Is “plaque” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.