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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
Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
This basic, 20-room boutique property is the perfect spot for walking to island restaurants, embarking on excursions, and enjoying sunsets from the oversized beachfront complete with a bar and restaurant.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026
Nicky’s life is upended when his sister Morgan (Taylor Ortega) steals a necklace for their dying grandmother from a boutique with ties to a criminal organization.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
This pocket of the city leans boutique and walkable — perfect for an unhurried start without wasting half your morning.
—Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for boutique
Cite this Entry
“Boutique.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boutique. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
boutique
noun
from French boutique "shop"
Legal Definition
boutique
noun
