boutique

American  

[boo-teek] / buˈtik /

noun

1. a small shop or a small specialty department within a larger store, especially one that sells fashionable clothes and accessories or a special selection of other merchandise.

2. any small, exclusive business offering customized service.

   Our advertising is handled by a new Madison Avenue boutique.

3. Informal. a small business, department, etc., specializing in one aspect of a larger industry.

   one of Wall Street's leading research boutiques.

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adjective

1. of, designating, or characteristic of a small, exclusive producer or business.

   one of California's best boutique wineries.

boutique British  

/ buːˈtiːk /

noun

1. a shop, esp a small one selling fashionable clothes and other items

2. 1. of or denoting a small specialized producer or business

   2. ( as modifier )

      a boutique winery

3. a small specialized stall or shopping area within a supermarket, esp selling fresh meat, seafood, etc

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Etymology

Origin of boutique

1760–70; < French, Middle French, probably < Old Provençal botica, botiga (with Late Greek ē > ī ) < Greek apothḗkē; see apothecary, bottega

Explanation

A boutique is a small shop, especially one that sells women's clothes and jewelry. If you like to shop, you probably love going to all the little boutiques downtown. Boutique comes from a French word of the same spelling, which means any small shop. The word has its roots in the Greek word apotheke, meaning "a warehouse." The same root word also gave rise to the English word apothecary. The word boutique often has an air of exclusivity. The boutiques on Fifth Avenue in New York can be so expensive that you might feel like you can't even afford to walk in the door.

Example Sentences

In launching the EV, Ferrari does have to meet European carbon emissions rules, though they’re less strict for boutique makers than mass producers like Toyota or Volkswagen.

From MarketWatch • May 26, 2026

A federal judge has handed down lengthy prison sentences to the three co-founders of StraightPath Venture Partners, a self-described boutique private-equity firm that specialized in selling investments in pre-IPO companies.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

Airbnb gained popularity for offering travelers unique and homey stays on other people’s property, but it added boutique hotel bookings to its platform late last year.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

Chesky argued that boutique and independent hotels account for 60 percent of hotel rooms around the world and his company wants to team up with them.

From Barron's • May 21, 2026

“I ran Freda Henbrook's boutique in Chelsea for eighteen months.”

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

Related Words

• booth
• store