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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
Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2025
Uniworld’s boutique river ships feature elegant design, luxury amenities, family-style gourmet dining, and immersive cultural experiences, ensuring a luxurious and memorable journey for this community and more.
—Martie Bowser, Essence, 22 May 2025
Levi envisions a complex with a pair of 20,000-square-foot soundstages, two amphitheaters, a boutique hotel, cabins and a farm-to-table restaurant.
—Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 22 May 2025
The boutique hotel, located at in Vienna’s Spittelberg neighborhood in the 7th district, has come to the fore as a hot spot for art and design enthusiasts, namely for its rooms designed by prominent fashion designers, artists and architects.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for boutique
Cite this Entry
“Boutique.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boutique. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
boutique
noun
from French boutique "shop"
Legal Definition
boutique
noun
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