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• Bohemian
  Bohemian

  noun

  a native or inhabitant of Bohemia.
• bohemian
  bohemian

  A descriptive term for a stereotypical way of life for artists and intellectuals. According to the stereotype (see also stereotype), bohemians live in material poverty because they prefer their art or their learning to lesser goods; they are also unconventional in habits and dress, and sometimes in morals.

Bohemian

American  

[boh-hee-mee-uhn] / boʊˈhi mi ən /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Bohemia.

2. Usually bohemian a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices.

3. the Czech language, especially as spoken in Bohemia.

4. a Romani.

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adjective

1. of or relating to Bohemia, its people, or their language.

2. Usually bohemian pertaining to or characteristic of the unconventional life of a bohemian.

3. living a wandering or vagabond life.

Bohemian British  

/ bəʊˈhiːmɪən /

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Bohemia, esp of the old kingdom of Bohemia; a Czech

2. (often not capital) a person, esp an artist or writer, who lives an unconventional life

3. the Czech language

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Bohemia, its people, or their language

2. unconventional in appearance, behaviour, etc

bohemian Cultural  

1. A descriptive term for a stereotypical way of life for artists and intellectuals. According to the stereotype (see also stereotype), bohemians live in material poverty because they prefer their art or their learning to lesser goods; they are also unconventional in habits and dress, and sometimes in morals.

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Other Word Forms

• Bohemianism
  noun
• anti-Bohemian
  adjective
• pro-Bohemian
  adjective
• pseudo-Bohemian
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of Bohemian

First recorded in 1570–80; Bohemi(a) + -an

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Explanation

An artist who's famous for always being barefoot, or a musician who shares an apartment with her band members and four cats might be described as bohemian — that is, living an unconventional, artistic lifestyle. In the 19th century, Roma people living in France were referred to as Bohémiens because of a mistaken belief that they came from the middle-European region then known as Bohemia. Over time, the name became attached to artists, writers, and musicians who refused to conform to mainstream society and shared an outsider status and spirit. Today, bohemian still describes someone who lives this way, but it's also a fashion style — such as pairing clogs with a floaty peasant dress.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Bohemian bohemian

It was an early hint of the powerhouse vocals that became a hallmark of hits like Bohemian Rhapsody and Somebody to Love.

From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026

What you’ll need to imagine is the Bohemian Grove, which hides in the nearby forest, serving as a haven for the rich, powerful, famous and all-male members of the Bohemian Club since the 19th century.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Last year's concert also saw the orchestral debut of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody - including a special appearance by two of the band's surviving members, Brian May and Roger Taylor.

From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2026

The figures’ long, elegant fingers are a distinctive feature of Bohemian Gothic art, as are the tight blond curls framing the round faces of Mary, Jesus and the angel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025

Mahler was born into a Bohemian corner of the Austrian Empire, into a German-speaking Jewish community of about a thousand souls whose existence was entirely wiped from the map during the Holocaust.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

“This bohemian luxury property is truly a unicorn. Oceanfront land like this is uncommon in Maui. Designed by Ike Kligerman Barkley. Offered fully furnished and in excellent condition,” the description states.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

Moving with his wife and favorite model, Louise, to Manhattan’s bohemian East Village in 1948, Baer trained his eye on bustling street scenes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

A chic bohemian bungalow for her and her three-legged cat Zsa Zsa.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

She recalls how for years she had lived in “that thin upper surface of comfort and joy and freedom” that the bohemian life made possible.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026

Miguel and Alba led him to the bohemian quarter.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

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Related Words

• free spirit
• hippie
• nonconformist

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