niche

A niche is a place or position that’s particularly appropriate for someone or something, especially due to being very specific and different from others.

Niche often refers to a position or interest that allows someone or something to thrive in a particular environment. It’s especially used in the context of people’s careers to refer to the specific position, occupation, or business that will set them apart from others and allow them to be successful.

When someone tells you to “find your niche,” they mean you should find the very specific activity or position that sets you apart and in which you can find success or fulfillment.

Niche can also refer to a very specific part of the consumer market, as in My startup occupies a niche in the dry cleaning chemicals industry. 

In ecology, niche refers to the position or function that an organism occupies within its environment among other species of plants and animals.

The original, literal sense of niche refers to recess in a wall, especially one for the display of decorative objects, such as statues. Much less commonly, niche can be used as a verb meaning to place something in this kind of niche.

Niche is commonly used as an adjective to describe something that has very specific appeal, as inniche market or niche interests. 

The correct pronunciation of niche can be either nich or neesh.

Example: I started my bakery by selling all kinds of baked goods, but then I found my niche—making superhero-themed cupcakes.

The first records of the word niche in English come from the early 1600s. Niche comes from French and derives from the Middle French verb nicher, meaning “to make a nest.” It ultimately derives from the Latin nīdus, meaning “nest.”

Niche was first used in English to refer to a nook in a wall where you could display a statue or something else—like a little nest for decorative objects. Eventually, it came to be used in a figurative sense to refer to the narrow place or position you can occupy to find success. Niche is perhaps most commonly used as an adjective describing such positions or interests. For example, an ice cream shop that offers niche flavors like jalapeño and lavender occupies a niche market by serving customers with niche tastes.

What are some other forms related to niche?

• unniched (adjective)

What are some words that share a root or word element with niche? 

• nest

What are some words that often get used in discussing niche?

• market
• interest
• topic
• vocation
• calling
• find
• carve
• product

As a noun, niche commonly refers to a specific career or business that will set someone apart and allow them to be successful. As an adjective, it’s often used to describe specific interests, businesses, or segments of the consumer market.

"As soon as I got behind a dogsled, I knew I had found my niche in the outdoor world." https://t.co/8NmOrExVDx

— Outside (@outsidemagazine) July 27, 2017

We have to start being unapologetic about Afrobeats. Stop acting like they are doing us a favor by playing our music. Wizkid sold out the O2 arena with 20,000 capacity. We are not a niche genre anymore. Tell your local deejay to update his Afrobeats playlist. We Worldwide now!!

— Eche Enziga (@Echecrates) August 10, 2018

Admittedly a niche topic but 🐝I LOVE BEES 🐝and think everyone else should too. Did you know "bee tourism"is now a Thing? I went to Slovenia to do it! 🐝🍯🐝🍯https://t.co/woqqB7sJZH

— Katie Grant (@kt_grant) August 10, 2018

Which of the following words could be described with the adjective niche?

A. market
B. interest
C. topic
D. all of the above