boudoir

American  

[boo-dwahr, -dwawr] / ˈbu dwɑr, -dwɔr /

noun

1. a woman's bedroom or private sitting room.

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boudoir British  

/ -dwɔː, ˈbuːdwɑː /

noun

1. a woman's bedroom or private sitting room

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Etymology

Origin of boudoir

1775–85; < French: literally, a sulking place ( boud ( er ) to sulk + -oir -ory ² )

Explanation

Boudoir is a slightly old-fashioned word for a bedroom. You could invite a friend for a sleepover and say, "You can sleep on the spare bed in my boudoir." These days, the word boudoir is mainly used for its humorous effect. You may also come across it in an old book or movie, almost always referring to a woman's private bedroom. A boudoir is comfortable and luxurious, and the word itself was popular among the upper class in the 18th century, from the French and meaning "pouting room," from bouder, "to pout" or "to sulk."

Example Sentences

Grammy-winning singers Chappell Roan and Lola Young attended Vivienne Westwood's show and were clearly inspired by the late designer's deconstructed boudoir look.

From BBC • Mar. 10, 2026

As framed by beautiful, evocative pairings that punctuate the show’s final galleries, the conversation continued, with some of Manet’s later boudoir interiors and portraits of fashionable Parisiennes unthinkable without Morisot’s example.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 25, 2025

She opted before the record was released to first make a lighthearted video, set in a gym filled with out-of-shape men instead of in a boudoir.

From Washington Post • Aug. 8, 2022

Giger’s boudoir — that’s engineered to anticipate and eliminate every discomfort.

From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2022

Sourmelina, legs bandaged, lay back in her boudoir as Desdemona performed the first of the many prognostications that would end with me.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides

Related Words

• bedroom