boutique

American  

[boo-teek] / buˈtik /

noun

• boutiques
  plural

1. a small shop or a small specialty department within a larger store, especially one that sells fashionable clothes and accessories or a special selection of other merchandise.

2. any small, exclusive business offering customized service.

   Our advertising is handled by a new Madison Avenue boutique.

3. Informal. a small business, department, etc., specializing in one aspect of a larger industry.

   one of Wall Street's leading research boutiques.

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adjective

1. of, designating, or characteristic of a small, exclusive producer or business.

   one of California's best boutique wineries.

boutique British  

/ buːˈtiːk /

noun

1. a shop, esp a small one selling fashionable clothes and other items

2. 1. of or denoting a small specialized producer or business

   2. ( as modifier )

      a boutique winery

3. a small specialized stall or shopping area within a supermarket, esp selling fresh meat, seafood, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• boutiques
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of boutique

1760–70; < French, Middle French, probably < Old Provençal botica, botiga (with Late Greek ē > ī ) < Greek apothḗkē; see apothecary, bottega

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Explanation

A boutique is a small shop, especially one that sells women's clothes and jewelry. If you like to shop, you probably love going to all the little boutiques downtown. Boutique comes from a French word of the same spelling, which means any small shop. The word has its roots in the Greek word apotheke, meaning "a warehouse." The same root word also gave rise to the English word apothecary. The word boutique often has an air of exclusivity. The boutiques on Fifth Avenue in New York can be so expensive that you might feel like you can't even afford to walk in the door.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

boutique boutiques

Corine Farrell works at boutique gift shop Betty Moore, and is a Haworth resident.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

With Ball beginning a new chapter in Minnesota, his former Charlotte home is now seeking a new owner willing to pay $2.6 million for a place inside one of the city’s most exclusive boutique buildings.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

The most visible piece is MiM Hotels, six boutique properties from Ibiza to Andorra, which Melia has run under a rental agreement since 1 November 2025.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

After graduating from law school, he clerked for a U.S. district judge and then worked at a boutique litigation firm.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Carrie had started a jewelry boutique with her trust and ran it for a number of years until it failed.

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

The tower’s location will also place residents within walking distance of the upscale boutiques, restaurants, and cultural attractions that have helped transform the surrounding neighborhood into one of Miami’s most sought-after destinations.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

Reuters news agency reported luxury shops and boutiques were shuttered and surrounded by security guards at the Place Vendome in Paris.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

The idea is that you shouldn’t have to be wealthy to afford high-quality clothes sold at beautiful boutiques with personalized service.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

Tucker has been interested in fashion since she was a teenager and worked in clothing boutiques and as a buyer for years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026

But Eddy Strap’s mom beat me to it and explained how Pipo Place would bring couture boutiques to Main Street.

From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya

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Related Words

• booth
• store

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