bijou
Americannoun
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bijoux
plural
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a jewel.
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something small, delicate, and exquisitely wrought.
noun
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something small and delicately worked, such as a trinket
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ironic (modifier) small but elegant and tasteful
a bijou residence
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of bijou
1660–70; < French < Breton bizou (jeweled) ring, derivative of biz finger; cognate with Cornish bisou finger-ring, derivative of bis finger
Explanation
A bijou is a small, intricately crafted item, often used to describe elegant jewelry. It can also refer to a charming, cozy place, like a beautifully decorated apartment. Bijou is a versatile word that comes from French, meaning "jewel." As a noun, it often refers to a small, elegant piece of jewelry, like a lovely brooch or a finely crafted ring. As an adjective, bijou describes something that is charmingly small or exquisitely made. Imagine a cozy café filled with delightful decorations or a beautifully designed piece of art — both can be called bijou.
Vocabulary lists containing bijou
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:
"We've kind of wanted to stay a very bijou, boutique studio... we're not too big, we're quite keen to stay a sensible size where everyone can feel like they're involved."
From BBC ● Apr. 16, 2026
“Watermark is also a must,” says Maul of the bijou bookstore.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 16, 2022
After his friends go home, he makes for his bedroom, a bijou space to the rear of the apartment that’s appointed with a simple antique Iranian table and a Flos Parentesi lamp.
From New York Times ● Mar. 23, 2022
Instead, Andrew’s bijou 60th gathering was held at Royal Lodge, home of the duke and his destranged wife, Duchess Fergie.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 20, 2020
South America—firmly South America—in the little tiny wee, bijou village of Santa Lyta—far away from the beaten track, this lonely place lies basking in the sun.
From I'll Leave It To You A Light Comedy In Three Acts by Noel Coward
Liam Gallagher has his debut solo album out on 6 October, and is deploying a bijoux marketing campaign based on musical snippets, a mysterious poster campaign, and word of mouth from key influencers.
From The Guardian ● Aug. 10, 2017
First of all, I’m obsessed with jewelry and bijoux.
From Forbes ● Feb. 24, 2015
Each of Carr’s bijoux is truly a work of art, conjuring its namesake—a frog prince, phoenix chicks—from mesmerizing gemstones.
From Architectural Digest ● Oct. 7, 2014
In 20 years, she has successfully hawked more than 20 million bijoux for over $800 million in sales, according to her publicist.
From New York Times ● Mar. 6, 2010
Under these vegetations there showed themselves from time to time some of the rarest bijoux of the casket of the ocean; ivory shells, strombi, purple-fish, univalves, struthiolaires, turriculated cerites.
From Toilers of the Sea by Victor Hugo
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.
