boutonniere
Americannoun
noun
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.
Vocabulary lists containing boutonniere
On Trend: Fashionable Words
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!
Prom Time
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.
He finished his wedding-day look with a brooch, ruling out a boutonniere.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
We turned that over and over during the drive that followed until I burst out laughing — the crazed kind that might result from being sprayed in the face by the Joker's trick boutonniere.
From Salon • Dec. 6, 2024
The groom, in a three-piece navy suit — also Ralph Lauren — wore a floral brooch as a boutonniere.
From Washington Post • Nov. 20, 2022
Mr. Barasch tucked a boutonniere of wildflowers into his front pant pocket; Mr. Hammond wore hand painted flowers trailing from his chest pocket.
From New York Times • Aug. 20, 2021
When I was sufficiently encased, Javi pinned the boutonniere to my lapel, straightened my collar, and then stood back.
From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely
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.
