boutique

American  

[boo-teek] / buˈtik /

noun

• boutiques
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• boutiques
  plural

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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

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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

See Examples For:

boutique boutiques

Corine Farrell works at boutique gift shop Betty Moore, and is a Haworth resident.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

Designed to resemble a high-end fashion boutique, the space features floor-to-ceiling glass-front cabinetry, custom storage compartments, and elegant lighting.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 2026

About four years ago, Providence-based Citizens Financial CFG -0.09%decrease; down pointing triangle acquired DH Capital, a boutique advisory firm that specializes in tech infrastructure like data centers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

The first indication that something a bit fantastical is going on here is the fact that the boutique store has a mascot.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

MOP: It looks like it could be a boutique clothing shop.

From "The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora" by Pablo Cartaya

The tower’s location will also place residents within walking distance of the upscale boutiques, restaurants, and cultural attractions that have helped transform the surrounding neighborhood into one of Miami’s most sought-after destinations.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2026

Reuters news agency reported luxury shops and boutiques were shuttered and surrounded by security guards at the Place Vendome in Paris.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

Aritzia expects new retail stores to contribute to the new growth targets, with 12 to 13 new boutiques and four to five boutique repositionings planned for the year, most of them in the U.S. market.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Available at select Miu Miu boutiques and miumiu.com.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

Thanks to the Bay Area’s high-tech boom, long-vacant historic buildings downtown are filling with startups, boutiques peddling handmade jeans, and nightspots serving seven-ingredient cocktails.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater

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Related Words

• booth
• store

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