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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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026
Pepsi faced bogus charges for making volume deals that let families buy soda 12-packs for a few bucks — not at boutique pricing of a dollar per can.
—Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Situated between El Segundo and Hermosa Beach and home to about 35,500 residents, Manhattan Beach boasts such sites as its century-old pier, walking and biking path called the Strand, Sand Dune Park and a walkable downtown featuring boutiques and eateries.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026
At the event guests had the opportunity to encounter Alice, enjoy boutique shopping, and indulge in teas, pastries, tea sandwiches, champagne, live music, and informal modeling.
—Rancho Santa Fe Review, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Boutique.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boutique. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
boutique
noun
from French boutique "shop"
Legal Definition
boutique
noun
