1
: smart elegance and sophistication especially of dress or manner : style
wears her clothes with superb chic
2
: a distinctive mode of dress or manner associated with a fashionable lifestyle, ideology, or pursuit
wearing the latest in urban chic
New Age chic
3
: a faddishly popular quality or appeal
also
: something (such as a practice or interest) having such appeal
… the transient tides of academic chic. —
Irving Kristol
Irving Kristol
chicer; chicest
1
: cleverly stylish : smart
The woman who is chic adapts fashion to her own personality.—Elizabeth L. Post
Elizabeth L. Post2
: currently fashionable
a chic restaurant
chic boutiques
chicly
adverb
chicness
noun
Examples of chic in a Sentence
Noun
It's the height of chic this year.
mockumentaries are the latest filmmaking chic
Adjective
The café has a chic new look.
a chic new hairstyle that makes her look very sophisticated
Recent Examples on the Web
Christian Allaire, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026
This year, the Golden Globes red carpet embraced a mood of refinement and old-school chic, with black and white emerging as the evening’s defining palette.
—Alex Badia, Footwear News, 11 Jan. 2026
Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2026
Longchamp’s French essence really shines in this refined backpack, offering maximum space in a minimal design to create an ultra-chic carry.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chic
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Calvin Klein Frame bags In the late ’90s, Calvin Klein made a Frame bag in shiny Spazzolato leather that was so modern granny-chic.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026
This year, the Golden Globes red carpet embraced a mood of refinement and old-school chic, with black and white emerging as the evening’s defining palette.
—Alex Badia, Footwear News, 11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Designed to keep you warm and cozy during cold temperatures, this fuzzy shearling layer manages to stay stylish with the help of a polished trim and chic gold buttons.
—Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Jan. 2026
Longchamp’s French essence really shines in this refined backpack, offering maximum space in a minimal design to create an ultra-chic carry.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chic
Cite this Entry
“Chic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chic. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
