Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

boutonniere

American  
[boot-n-eer, boo-tuhn-yair] / ˌbut nˈɪər, ˌbu tənˈjɛər /

noun

  1. a flower or small bouquet worn, usually by a man, in the buttonhole of a lapel.


boutonniere British  
/ ˌbʊtɒnɪˈɛə /

noun

  1. another name for buttonhole

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of boutonniere

1875–80; < French boutonnière buttonhole ( bouton button + -ière suffix for things that facilitate the use of that denoted by the stem < Latin -āria -ary

Compare meaning

How does boutonniere compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

Explanation

A boutonniere is a flower or flowers worn in a buttonhole of a man's suit. A boutonniere is a fancy decoration that you might wear to your prom. Have you ever seen a flower poking out of a buttonhole in a man's suit? If so, you have seen a boutonniere. This is a French word for a flowers or flowers decorating a suit in this way. If you're wearing a suit and want to make it a little more colorful, a boutonniere is one way to do so. Just make sure you pick a flower for your boutonniere that goes well with your suit.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing boutonniere

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Boutonniere was a Carnation against a Leaf of Geranium with Tin Foil below, which is no longer being done in the Best Families.

From Knocking the Neighbors by Ade, George

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "boutonniere" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com