chic
Americanadjective
noun
-
style and elegance, especially in dress.
Paris clothes have such chic.
-
stylishness; modishness.
the chic of the firstnighters.
-
casual and understated style, as in dress or décor, that expresses a specified trendy lifestyle or activity.
Black-rimmed glasses bring some geek chic to your outfit.
adjective
noun
-
stylishness, esp in dress; modishness; fashionable good taste
-
any of various fashion movements based on a particular lifestyle
radical chic
geek chic
Pronunciation
The spelling pronunciation is considered nonstandard except when used facetiously.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of chic
1855–60; < French < German Schick skill
Explanation
Something that's chic is fashionable or stylish. If you see a chic outfit in the window of a chic boutique, you might imagine that buying it will make you as chic as a fashion model. Chic can also be used as an noun to mean a specific type of stylishness or coolness, like a downtown urban chic (skinny jeans, perhaps), or nerdy chic (big glasses). Chic is a French word, so remember, whether it's an adjective or a noun, to pronounce it as “sheek” and not “chick,” so you can sound as chic as you look!
Vocabulary lists containing chic
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
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English Words Derived from French, List 5
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Lucky Broken Girl
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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.
See Examples For:
It’s inexpensive, uncomplicated and just a little chic.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026
“We wanted chic modern but also comfortable and warm,” said Attias, noting that new artworks and rugs are still arriving.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
In art circles, Mirabelle is known for co-founding the edgy New York gallery Rivington Arms, and Melia is a Harvard-educated chef who helped turn The Smile into a chic NoHo cafe.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
The living room, bathed in natural light, offers vaulted ceilings, a chic bar area, and a fireplace.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026
The Glastonbury Festival’s future wasn’t exactly Bavarian chic and hushed reverence either.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
I think it’s because, with the feel-me walls, the bend-’n-sniff tubes, the claymation-like animated embroideries, it seemed like a grown-up version of the children’s “discovery” gallery, but with much chicer clothes.
From New York Times ● May 9, 2024
After one of the chicer funeral scenes committed to film, Marianne covers for Jean-Paul to the police, despite the fact Jean-Paul had just declared his desire to leave her for Penelope.
From New York Times ● Aug. 21, 2021
Next to last year’s model, this one has a sleeker and chicer vibe.
From The Verge ● Jul. 10, 2020
Happy hour at home just got a whole lot chicer, with bar carts popping up in a variety of prices, colors and styles, including modern, minimal and industrial.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 21, 2017
The channel gave you the recipes for being chicer, more alternative, more you; for being gayer, blacker, more confrontational; for being cooler, basically.
From New York Times ● Dec. 21, 2016
Comporta, Portugal’s chicest beach destination, is no longer a secret.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
Ahead of Saturday's awards ceremony, AFP brings you some of the chicest and craziest looks, and also the actor who brought a bit of grit to the glamour.
From Barron's ● May 22, 2026
But anyone who grew up with the chicest member of the Muppets’ ensemble cast, whether on their TVs or in their dreams, understands she’s an eternal headliner.
From Salon ● Feb. 28, 2026
It’s election night in Robert Icke’s “Oedipus,” a modern retelling of Sophocles’ “Oedipus the King” that must be the buzziest, if not the chicest, Broadway offering of the fall season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2025
All our chicest stock-jokes and pet patter they mops up, like mugs as they are, For they might cut their own chaff, eh, Charlie? not borrow it all from the bar.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 93. July 30, 1887 by
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