Bohemian

[ boh-hee-mee-uhn ]

/ boʊˈhi mi ən /

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See synonyms for Bohemian on Thesaurus.com

noun

a native or inhabitant of Bohemia.

(usually lowercase) a person, as an artist or writer, who lives and acts free of regard for conventional rules and practices.

the Czech language, especially as spoken in Bohemia.

a Romani.

adjective

of or relating to Bohemia, its people, or their language.

(usually lowercase) pertaining to or characteristic of the unconventional life of a bohemian.

living a wandering or vagabond life.

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Origin of Bohemian

First recorded in 1570–80; Bohemi(a) + -an

OTHER WORDS FROM Bohemian

Bo·he·mi·an·ism, nounpro-Bo·he·mi·an, adjective, nounpseu·do-Bo·he·mi·an, adjective, noun

Words nearby Bohemian

boh, Bo Hai, Bohea, Bohemia, Bohemia-Moravia, Bohemian, Bohemian Brethren, Bohemian Forest, Bohemianism, Bohemond I, Bohlen

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use Bohemian in a sentence

She was a celebrated bohemian, considered a scandalous woman.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was Milan Hruška, a fiery miner from the North Bohemian coal mines.
How Havel Inspired the Velvet Revolution|Michael Zantovsky|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Women may have frequented bohemian bars, but on the whole it was friendships and private networks.
Sarah Waters: Queen of the Tortured Lesbian Romance|Tim Teeman|September 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
These bohemian joints were so uncompromising that they reminded Moss “you needed chutzpah to live in New York,” he says.
The End of New York: How One Blog Tracks the Disappearance of a Vibrant City|Tim Teeman|August 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST

To honor the occasion, DVF presented a collection—or rather, a party—that was dubbed “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
Fashion’s Most Powerful Women: Victoria Beckham & Diane von Furstenberg Show at New York Fashion Week|Erin Cunningham|February 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 1904 there was only one drinking-saloon, kept by a Bohemian-born American, who paid $6,000 a year for his monopoly licence.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
Mrs. Sin was well known in certain Bohemian quarters, but was always spoken of as one speaks of a pet vice.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
John Huss, a Bohemian clergyman who had adopted the opinions of Wickliff, was burnt at the stake.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
She was a very literary young woman, much spoken of in Bohemian circles for elegance and graciousness.
Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z|Anatole Cerfberr and Jules Franois Christophe
There is something peculiar in butter prepared in this way, as it is known in other countries by the name of Bohemian butter.
Domestic Animals|Richard L. Allen

British Dictionary definitions for Bohemian

Bohemian

/ (bəʊˈhiːmɪən) /

noun

a native or inhabitant of Bohemia, esp of the old kingdom of Bohemia; a Czech

(often not capital) a person, esp an artist or writer, who lives an unconventional life

the Czech language

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of Bohemia, its people, or their language

unconventional in appearance, behaviour, etc

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

Cultural definitions for Bohemian

bohemian

A descriptive term for a stereotypical way of life for artists and intellectuals. According to the stereotype (see also stereotype), bohemians live in material poverty because they prefer their art or their learning to lesser goods; they are also unconventional in habits and dress, and sometimes in morals.