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

Its new incarnation features design contributions from Schrager and British minimalist designer John Pawson and departs from upscale boutique hotel tradition in several ways.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

With Ball beginning a new chapter in Minnesota, his former Charlotte home is now seeking a new owner willing to pay $2.6 million for a place inside one of the city’s most exclusive boutique buildings.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 29, 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

Indigo Road Hospitality Group, an owner of restaurants and boutique hotels, named Catherine Woods as chief marketing officer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

She had found the delicate charms online, a tiny gold M and a tiny gold peach, and used the money from her old clothing boutique job to pay for them.

From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway

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

In Baghdad, new boutiques and cafes have opened.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

Available at select Miu Miu boutiques and miumiu.com.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

We would be sipping ice-cold spritzes at cafés overlooking the Mediterranean, frolicking down cobblestone streets lined with charming boutiques, and marveling at the frescoes and marble sculptures adorning grand cathedrals.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

One side was lined with stores and boutiques while the other ran beside a mile-long park that provided postcard-perfect views of Edinburgh Castle.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

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Related Words

• booth
• store

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