boutique

noun, often attributive

bou·tique | \bü-ˈtēk

Definition of boutique

1a : a small shop dealing in fashionable clothing or accessories

b : a small shop within a large department store

2 : a small company that offers highly specialized services or products boutique wineries an independent investment boutique

Other Words from boutique Apothecaries, Bodegas, and Boutiques More Example Sentences Learn More about boutique

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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

Recent Examples on the Web

Charming Danville capably serves as the county seat, anchored by a traditional courthouse and a friendly old-fashioned town square lined with cafes, galleries, bakeries and boutique shops. — Shelley Specchio, Indianapolis Star, "Discovering Indianapolis’ vibrant neighborhoods: Hendricks County," 13 July 2018 TLA’s offices are located in Cleveland’s Waterloo Arts District, a bohemian downtown neighborhood with art galleries, boutique shops, and cafes. — Christopher Johnston, The Christian Science Monitor, "Cleveland uses literature to empower youth, overcome social divides," 9 July 2018 So far, only one course has been built along with a clubhouse and a boutique hotel with 16 rooms. — Jill Colvin And Paul Kelbie, chicagotribune.com, "Trump lies low in Scotland ahead of high-stakes meeting with Putin," 14 July 2018 So far, only one course has been built along with a clubhouse and a boutique hotel with 16 rooms. — BostonGlobe.com, "Trump back in Scotland ahead of Putin talks," 14 July 2018 The restaurant has been very popular, and a second location is scheduled to open shortly within a new boutique hotel that is part of a $100 million renovation of The Shops at Willow Bend mall in Plano, a Dallas suburb. — Larry Olmsted, USA TODAY, "Chicken, biscuits and beer: Dallas eatery serves tasty trifecta," 12 July 2018 In tandem, the company commissioned a survey of 49 boutique hotel and bed-and-breakfast owners, showing that the hoteliers believed the fees charged by Booking and its corporate peers were too high. — Erin Griffith, WIRED, "The Airbnb Challenger You've Never Heard of (by Name)," 2 July 2018 The boutique hotel, which melds neoclassical and Art Deco elements to exceptional effect, overlooks the famous Plaza San Francisco and the city’s surrounding volcanoes. — Alexandra Kirkman, Fortune, "Visit the Galapagos Like a Royal," 23 June 2018 The hospitality industry continues to look for alternatives to the cookie-cutter flagship brands and even the proliferation of formulaic boutique hotels. — Patrick Sisson, Curbed, "Motel revivalism: How hipster hoteliers created a new roadside attraction," 22 June 2018

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.

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Last Updated

17 Oct 2018

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Time Traveler for boutique

The first known use of boutique was in 1767

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More Definitions for boutique

boutique

noun

English Language Learners Definition of boutique

: a small store that sells stylish clothing or other usually expensive things

See the full definition for boutique in the English Language Learners Dictionary

boutique

noun

bou·tique | \bü-ˈtēk

Kids Definition of boutique

: a small fashionable shop

boutique

noun

bou·tique | \bü-ˈtēk

Legal Definition of boutique

: a small company that offers highly specialized services or products specifically : a small law firm that offers services in one or a small number of legal areas