chic

1 of 2

noun

1
: smart elegance and sophistication especially of dress or manner : style
wears her clothes with superb chic
2
: a distinctive mode of dress or manner associated with a fashionable lifestyle, ideology, or pursuit
wearing the latest in urban chic
New Age chic
3
: a faddishly popular quality or appeal
also : something (such as a practice or interest) having such appeal
the transient tides of academic chic Irving Kristol

chic

2 of 2

adjective

chicer; chicest
1
: cleverly stylish : smart
the woman who is chic adapts fashion to her own personalityElizabeth L. Post
2
: currently fashionable
a chic restaurant
chic boutiques
chicly adverb
chicness noun

Examples of chic in a Sentence

Noun It's the height of chic this year. mockumentaries are the latest filmmaking chic Adjective The café has a chic new look. a chic new hairstyle that makes her look very sophisticated
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Hilaire says millennials just dress it up a bit with dress shirts for going out, and the business casual club chic that was really popular in the late aughts. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 10 Oct. 2023 Grab chunky jewelry and oversized sunglasses for boho chic or sneakers and a belt bag for a more athletic look. Rachael Green, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2023 The Goop founder leaned into the après ski chic, wearing neutral sweaters, long pleated skirts, and sleek suits. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 13 Nov. 2023 The decor epitomizes Scandinavian chic, with light-wood paneling, contemporary furniture, and a simple palette. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 8 Nov. 2023 Early photos reveal a bohemian chic of sorts — leather jackets paired with tees, oversized sweaters, boxy shirts, and tailoring all cast in a shade of midnight black. Kyle Lamar Rice, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2023 Relaxed luxury with notes of African chic give the Thompson an easy yet elegant feel. Essence, 25 Oct. 2023 This lush modern mid-century riot of luxury, inspired by the tropical aesthetic of the Bond film Thunderball and the sleek contemporary chic of the film Ex Machina, is the team’s most audacious gamble to date. Hadley Meares, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Oct. 2023 Plants were a natural candidate to be remade by the mania for rustic chic. Steven Kurutz, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2023
Adjective
The calendar itself has a gorgeous blue and silver winter wonderland design, and the little cotton tea bags are both chic and eco-friendly. Carina Finn, Bon Appétit, 13 Nov. 2023 Located in the chic Le Marais neighborhood, a gathering point of intellectuals during the French Enlightenment period, Le Grand Mazarin (nightly rates from $739) is housed in three historic buildings at the corner of Rue des Archives and Rue de la Verrerie. Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 13 Nov. 2023 Book a stay at a chic hotel like the historic Hotel Monteleone, tasteful Peter & Paul, or glitzy Four Seasons. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 13 Nov. 2023 Biles looked chic in a white blazer and a black mini dress with black boots. Escher Walcott, Peoplemag, 11 Nov. 2023 Whitney and Asher have bet their whole, over-leveraged house of cards — shockingly, the economics of chic designer homes in an under-resourced area don’t quite pencil out — on their show’s success, but Dougie, too, needs a win. Alison Herman, Variety, 10 Nov. 2023 For the multitasker Part of the new black-denim line from Coach, this chic bag is also crazy practical. Sarah Grossbart, wsj.com, 9 Nov. 2023 As usual, Ashley looked incredibly chic in her off-duty look yesterday. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2023 Tracee Ellis Ross Wears Harbison Studio And Brandon Maxwell Fashion icon Tracee Ellis Ross, known for her daring yet chic personal style, showcased a merge of Harbison Studio and Brandon Maxwell for her spread in the Travel + Leisure, styled by duo Dani + Emma. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 1 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French

Adjective

probably from attributive use of chic entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chic was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near chic

Cite this Entry

“Chic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chic. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

chic

1 of 2 noun
: fashionable style

chic

2 of 2 adjective
chicer; chicest
: stylish, smart
chic clothes

More from Merriam-Webster on chic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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