je ne sais quoi

noun

: something (such as an appealing quality) that cannot be adequately described or expressed
a young actress who has a certain je ne sais quoi

Examples of je ne sais quoi in a Sentence

Although the sculpture had flaws, it also had a certain je ne sais quoi that made it very appealing.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Fresh from his tenure at Nina Ricci, Henry oversaw the revival of the fashion house founded by trailblazer Jean Patou a century earlier, going for sporty chic silhouettes with a cinematic French je ne sais quoi. Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026 Alexander does not possess Hall’s je ne sais quoi,which goes beyond the mathematical proportions a plastic surgeon might recommend and toward an innate sense of style. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026 Despite this simplicty, the final dish is velvety, rich, and has that je ne sais quoi that only Boursin can provide. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 28 Jan. 2026 Even as a frightened, 14-year-old child bride shipped off from Austria to marry a stranger, Marie Antoinette always had that je ne sais quoi. Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 29 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for je ne sais quoi

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, I know not what

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of je ne sais quoi was circa 1656

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Cite this Entry

“Je ne sais quoi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/je%20ne%20sais%20quoi. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.

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