Definition of CACHET

Q: What is the difference between 'cache' and 'cachet'?

Although the two words come from the same root (the French cacher , meaning "to press, hide"), cache and cachet have different meanings (/words-at-play/cache-and-cachet-whats-the-difference). Cache primarily refers to a thing that is hidden or stored somewhere, or to the place where it is hidden. It has recently taken on another common meaning, "short-term computer memory where information is stored for easy retrieval." Cachet usually means "prestige" or "a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige."

Q: What is the difference between 'cachet' and 'prestige'?

Several of the senses of cachet are similar, or synonymous with prestige ; among its definitions are "a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige," "an indication of approval carrying great prestige," and "prestige." However, cachet does have additional meanings which share little of their meaning with prestige , including "a medicinal preparation for swallowing," and "a seal used especially as a mark of official approval."

Q: How do you pronounce 'cachet'?

Cache and cash are pronounced the same, but cachet is pronounced \cash-AY. Cachet and cache share the same origin, the French cacher "to press, hide"; cash , however, comes from a different root, the Latin word for "chest" ( capsa ).

Frequently Asked Questions About cachet

What is the difference between cache and cachet?

Although the two words come from the same root (the French cacher, meaning "to press, hide"), cache and cachet have different meanings (/words-at-play/cache-and-cachet-whats-the-difference). Cache primarily refers to a thing that is hidden or stored somewhere, or to the place where it is hidden. It has recently taken on another common meaning, "short-term computer memory where information is stored for easy retrieval." Cachet usually means "prestige" or "a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige."

What is the difference between cachet and prestige?

Several of the senses of cachet are similar, or synonymous with prestige; among its definitions are "a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige," "an indication of approval carrying great prestige," and "prestige." However, cachet does have additional meanings which share little of their meaning with prestige, including "a medicinal preparation for swallowing," and "a seal used especially as a mark of official approval."

How do you pronounce cachet?

Cache and cash are pronounced the same, but cachet is pronounced \cash-AY. Cachet and cache share the same origin, the French cacher "to press, hide"; cash, however, comes from a different root, the Latin word for "chest" (capsa).

Examples of cachet in a Sentence

a movie director with great artistic cachet His research in Antarctica gave him a certain cachet among other scientists.

Recent Examples on the Web The business has struggled to turn things around after a period of heavy discounting and flash sales eroded the brand’s cachet. — Kim Bhasin, Bloomberg.com, "Kate Spade Gets New CEO to Lead Turnaround Bid at Handbag Brand," 15 May 2020 But in 2012, tech billionaire and Oracle founder Larry Ellison purchased that 98% (the rest is owned by the state) and has been upgrading Lanai’s cachet as a luxury holiday destination with Four Seasons as partner. — Chadner Navarro, Fortune, "Four Seasons just unveiled its first all-inclusive wellness resort," 7 Mar. 2020 Wider exposure and industry cachet aside, though, most American remakes are but pale copies of the ingenious, eccentric, culturally specific movies that preceded them. — Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, "On the heels of ‘Parasite’s’ Oscars win for best picture, can we finally jettison the dreaded American remake?," 13 Feb. 2020 At its height, the society had amassed significant political influence, economic power and cultural cachet. — Erin Blakemore, National Geographic, "Hints of mysterious religion discovered in world’s highest lake," 1 Apr. 2019 Yet, despite its cachet, the chain has struggled to keep up in the luxury wars. — Phil Wahba, Fortune, "Neiman Marcus may file for bankruptcy, but either way, it needs to get slimmer," 24 Apr. 2020 Her chile oil commands the cultural cachet of Heinz. — Max Falkowitz, Saveur, "You Need This New High-End Chinese Chile Crisp," 4 June 2018 That a blue-chip corporation would move to an area between trendy New York neighborhoods like Greenwich Village and TriBeCa, without the cachet of either of them, could have seemed like baffling choice. — New York Times, "With Disney, a Manhattan Neighborhood Reinvents Itself," 3 Mar. 2020 Though the fourth-highest peak in the world, Lhotse bears little of the cachet of its neighbor, Everest. — Krista Stevens, Longreads, "Finding Answers about Life and Love in the Mountain Death Zone," 12 Feb. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cachet.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.