Quantcast
Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
  • Dictionary
  • Thesaurus
  • Scrabble
  • Spanish Central
  • Learner's Dictionary

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

mystique

play
noun mys·tique \mi-ˈstēk\

Simple Definition of mystique

  • : a special quality that makes a person or thing interesting or exciting

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

Full Definition of mystique

  1. 1 :  an air or attitude of mystery and reverence developing around something or someone

  2. 2 :  the special esoteric skill essential in a calling or activity

See mystique defined for English-language learners

See mystique defined for kids



Examples of mystique in a sentence

  1. There's a certain mystique to people who fight fires.

  2. No one has been able to copy the legendary singer's mystique.

  3. the mystique of mountain climbing



Origin and Etymology of mystique

French, from mystique, adjective, mystic, from Latin mysticus


First Known Use: 1891

Learn More about mystique

  1. Spanish Central: Translation of mystique Nglish: Translation of mystique for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of mystique for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up mystique? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

empyreal

play

of or relating to the heavens

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. diaspora From the Greek word meaning "to scatter"

  2. big league, bigly Both are real words

  3. stamina The word means "staying power"

  4. temperament The candidates attacked each other's temperaments

  5. braggadocio Trump said 'braggadocious'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

mystique

WORD GAMES

Take a 3-minute break and test your skills!

dog-eating-apple

Which is a synonym of asperse?

placate beat defame divulge
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

spree
Should 'Spree' Always Be Fun?

Is "crime spree" incorrect?

that-vs-which
'That' vs. 'Which'

Which one should you choose?

10-words-that-are-older-than-you-might-think-irregardless
Imply/Infer, Amuse/Bemuse, and Other Usage Problems Solved With Limericks

You're welcome

venus
'Venom' and the Goddess of Love

Who knew 'venom' could be so lovely?

Ask the Editors

subjunctive
How to Use the Subjunctive in English

If I were you, I'd watch this

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

dog-eating-apple
September Words of the Day Quiz

Test your knowledge of September Words of the Day.

Take the quiz
alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

Can you spell these 15 tricky spelling words?

Take the quiz
Name That Thing
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game
Examples: mystique in a sentence