habitué

American  

[huh-bich-oo-ey, -bich-oo-ey, a-bee-twey] / həˈbɪtʃ uˌeɪ, -ˌbɪtʃ uˈeɪ, a biˈtweɪ /

noun

plural

habitués

1. a frequent or habitual visitor to a place.

   a habitué of art galleries.

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habitué British  

/ həˈbɪtjʊˌeɪ /

noun

1. a frequent visitor to a place

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Etymology

Origin of habitué

First recorded in 1810–20; from French, noun use of masculine past participle of habituer, from Late Latin habituāre; see habituate

Explanation

A habitué is a frequent and well-known patron of a particular place. If you walk into a restaurant, and the entire staff waves and says your name, you are likely a habitué. The English habitué is spelled and pronounced the same as the 200-year-old French word (the accent is optional), which means "accustomed." The most famous habitué in American sitcom history is probably Norm Peterson of Cheers, whose arrival was always greeted by a chorus of patrons shouting "Norm!" Other, less French-sounding words for this famous fellow might be fixture or regular.

Example Sentences

The older painter, though remaining a salon habitué, lent a Morisot painting he owned to the show.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 25, 2025

Shown evidence later that week by a HuffPost reporter that the man was a well-known habitué of St. Louis Cardinals baseball games, Mr. McBride replied: “If I’m wrong, so be it, bro. I don’t care.”

From New York Times • Jun. 23, 2023

Isaac’s character, William Tell, is, as the title declares, a professional gambler, a habitué of casinos, an expert at counting cards.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 9, 2021

Which meant that for about four months this longtime habitué of New York’s cultural scene essentially had no nightlife.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 15, 2020

My uncle, who is an habitué of Paris, was at the Jockey Club one day, and heard two exquisites talking about them.

From The International Monthly, Volume 2, No. 4, March, 1851 by Various