boutique

noun

bou·​tique bü-ˈtēk How to pronounce boutique (audio)
often attributive
1
a
: a small shop dealing in fashionable clothing or accessories
b
: a small shop within a large department store
2
: a small company that offers highly specialized services or products
boutique wineries
an independent investment boutique
boutiquey adjective

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Apothecaries, Bodegas, and Boutiques

Apothecary, bodega, and boutique may not look very similar, but they are all related both in meaning and in origin. Each of these words can be traced back to a Latin word for “storehouse” (apotheca), and each one refers in English to a retail establishment of some sort. Although bodega initially meant “a storehouse for wine,” it now most commonly refers to a grocery store in an urban area, especially one that specializes in Hispanic groceries. Boutique has also taken on new meanings: its first sense in English (“a small retail store”) is still current, but it now may also denote “a small company that offers highly specialized products or services.” Of the three words, apothecary has changed the least; it has gone from referring solely to the person who sells drugs or medicines to also naming the store where such goods are sold.

Examples of boutique in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Slightly bigger than Rhode Island, Sonoma is home to 19 sub-AVAs, 62,000 acres of grapes, 1,800 grape growers, and more than 425 wineries ranging from boutique family-run operations to massive corporate enterprises. Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2024 White likes to stay at the boutique Newpark Resort, where rooms offer fireplaces and private decks with hot tubs. Nina Kokotas Hahn, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Mar. 2024 This charming town on Lake Macatawa's shore has a rich Dutch heritage and a main drag lined with boutiques, art galleries, and eateries. Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 10 Mar. 2024 Summer Lucille Summer Lucille owns the plus-size boutique Juicy Body Goddess at Charlotte’s Northlake Mall, which sells sizes 12-30, or XL-6XL. Jodie Valade, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2024 Another women’s apparel and accessories boutique, The Color Game, is next door to the building that once housed the old Mexican cafe. Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Mar. 2024 Louis Vuitton, Dior, Gucci and Chanel have dedicated main boutiques in the store. The Editors, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Bay Street’s stretch of restaurants, cafes (like Lowcountry Produce Kitchen, pictured above), and boutiques doesn’t hurt its charm, either. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 But directly next door stands the gleaming blonde wood of Sycamore and Oak, a multi-level commercial center featuring a food court, boutique grocery stores and multiple shops — all Black owned. Ashraf Khalil, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'boutique.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French, shop, probably from Old Occitan botica, ultimately from Greek apothēkē storehouse — more at apothecary

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of boutique was in 1767

Dictionary Entries Near boutique

Cite this Entry

“Boutique.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boutique. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

boutique

noun
bou·​tique bü-ˈtēk How to pronounce boutique (audio)
: a small fashionable store
Etymology

from French boutique "shop"

Legal Definition

boutique

noun
bou·​tique bü-ˈtēk How to pronounce boutique (audio)
: a small company that offers highly specialized services or products
specifically : a small law firm that offers services in one or a small number of legal areas

More from Merriam-Webster on boutique

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