habitué

American  

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

noun

habitués plural

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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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• habitués
  plural

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

While researching, Peters also stumbled across the green darner dragonfly: Washington’s state insect; a habitué of lakes, ponds and springs; and a rich symbol.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 9, 2022

Lange also recorded words on placards and billboards within the photograph itself, following a trail blazed by Walker Evans, a habitué of avant-garde literary circles in New York who loved written language.

From New York Times • Feb. 13, 2020

Her first love, a fellow marsh habitué who sweetly teaches her to read and write, does not return for her as promised once he leaves for college.

From Slate • Jul. 30, 2019

“Yes,” I answered; “but the Count is an old habitué, I believe?”

From The Count's Chauffeur by Le Queux, William