louche
Americanadjective
adjective
Etymology
Origin of louche
1810–20; < French: literally, cross-eyed; Old French losche, feminine of lois < Latin luscus blind in one eye
Explanation
Someone with louche taste is decadent and flashy. It’s one thing to wear gold around your neck as jewelry, but louche to have all your teeth capped in the precious metal just for the heck of it. Louche is an adjective that describes something “of questionable taste or morality" but is also kind of attractive. It comes from the French louche, which also means “squinting,” and that word comes from the Latin lusca, meaning “one-eyed.” Imagine a louche pirate with an eye patch that you just can't turn away from. It's pronounced like a little kid trying to say "loose," like "loosh." You can also use louche in place of words like decadent, shady, and sinister.
Vocabulary lists containing louche
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
English Words Derived from French, List 11
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Notes of a Native Son
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
By 2014, she says, “the abstemious, incorruptible leader had become a louche, boorish one.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026
The Pike’s louche doings made for great newspaper copy.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 4, 2025
Lawrence Osborne does a very good, louche take on being an English expat in Asian locales.
From New York Times • Jan. 18, 2024
He was literary, like others of his family, and louche like punk London.
From BBC • Dec. 2, 2023
"Young Mr. Richie Gardiner seemed louche" she observed after a silence which Warren seemed willing indefinitely to prolong.
From The Heart of Rachael by Norris, Kathleen Thompson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
