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
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English Words Derived from French, List 11
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Prom Time
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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.
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
Sean Perry was wearing a U-Va. tie, and his wife had a U-Va. boutonniere, Haggard said, as they spoke by phone.
From Washington Post • Dec. 14, 2022
Ms. Valonis wore a champagne lace knee-length dress with a matching shawl; Mr. Mirra, a royal blue suit with a bright white carnation boutonniere.
From New York Times • Nov. 5, 2021
Meanwhile, the wedding vendors in Michigan have been "completely understanding" with the sudden change of plans, by refunding the money for the best man's suit, boutonniere and meal, Perry said.
From Fox News • Aug. 21, 2021
He gives me a bone-white corsage for my wrist, and Mom helps me pin a boutonniere to the lapel of his tux.
From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli
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.
