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; 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

This hotel, born as a motel in 1947, was reborn as a boutique property in 2024.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

His real-estate company is developing a $500 million project downtown with a boutique hotel and more than 1,000 apartment units planned.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

“This is going to be the first boutique, high-end luxury townhome community in Hutchinson Island,” Cameron said, noting that much of the surrounding development has historically been more “commodity” driven.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 1, 2026

Set in downtown LA, it’s an eclectic, colorful boutique hotel with vintage brick details and excellent service.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

A dog in the doorway of a clothing boutique yipped.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Related Words

• booth
• store