Apothecaries, Bodegas, and Boutiques

Apothecary, bodega, and boutique may not look very similar, but they are all related both in meaning and in origin. Each of these words can be traced back to a Latin word for “storehouse” (apotheca), and each one refers in English to a retail establishment of some sort. Although bodega initially meant “a storehouse for wine,” it now most commonly refers to a grocery store in an urban area, especially one that specializes in Hispanic groceries. Boutique has also taken on new meanings: its first sense in English (“a small retail store”) is still current, but it now may also denote “a small company that offers highly specialized products or services.” Of the three words, apothecary has changed the least; it has gone from referring solely to the person who sells drugs or medicines to also naming the store where such goods are sold.

Examples of boutique in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, the 70-room, 22-suite boutique hotel is strategically positioned opposite the French Dom cathedral, showcasing the grandeur, elegance, and luxury of Prussian-era Berlin. — Laura Parker, Forbes, 18 May 2022 Caribbean coast, the all-inclusive 5-star boutique hotel is nestled between Cancun and Tulum. — Cori Murray, Essence, 11 May 2022 Located a short walk from Front Street and downtown Hamilton, this elegant boutique hotel is tucked into a lovely tropical garden. — Washington Post, 29 Apr. 2022 The boutique hotel has 24 rooms, including four suites and a penthouse that boasts a 1,420-square-foot private balcony. — Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2022 The upmarket Greek seafood eatery entered into new waters this year with the opening of Xenodocheio Milos, its first boutique hotel. — Nicole Trilivas, CNN, 11 Mar. 2022 The organization, which includes architects, wanted to preserve the building’s Brutalism architecture and create a destination center that could house offices, an event center, an art gallery, food venues or a boutique hotel among other options. — Michelle Mullins, chicagotribune.com, 2 Mar. 2022 The past month has been one of the busiest for Mawluda Momin, the co-founder of Sydney modest fashion boutique, TWIICE. — Alicia Vrajlal, refinery29.com, 1 May 2022 Another new venue—housing a tasting bar, multiple art installations, a boutique, and an atelier workshop—was built directly across the street from Château Perrier on top of what used to be the parking lot across the street from not too long ago. — Rachel King, Fortune, 30 Apr. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'boutique.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.