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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
Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
Nine scented capsule options are currently available, such as crowd-pleasing Baies (Berries) and woody 34 Boulevard Saint-Germain, named for the location of their first boutique, though this author’s pick for home scenting may have to be Figuier (Fig Tree), which smells lush and fresh.
—Austa Somvichian-Clausen, Robb Report, 14 Aug. 2025
Ringed by restaurants, boutiques, and yacht berths, the port had lots of coming soon signage.
—Jaclyn Degiorgio, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2025
Where to Stay: This is wine country, so boutique hotels abound, as do private campgrounds.
—Graham Averill, Outside, 11 Aug. 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 22 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
boutique
noun
from French boutique "shop"
Legal Definition
boutique
noun
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