chic

play

noun \ ˈshēk \

Definition of chic

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

See chic defined for English-language learners

See chic defined for kids

Examples of chic in a Sentence

It's the height of chic this year.
mockumentaries are the latest filmmaking chic

Recent Examples of chic from the Web

Only a Hongkonger could have stuck a Mandarin collar on a polo shirt, imbued it with pre-revolutionary chic, and then sold it to the world under the logo of a red, communist star.

— liam fitzpatrick / hong kong, Time, "Hong Kong Businessman and Socialite David Tang Dies Aged 63," 30 Aug. 2017
So I was delighted this summer to run across the hipster chic of food trucks incorporated into the strategy of an Ohio nonprofit to feed kids who need access to good meals.

— byron mccauley, Cincinnati.com, "Not just for hipsters: Food trucks serve hungry kids," 4 Aug. 2017
Edgy in a conventionally pretty way but chic in an unapologetically feminine way.

— sable yong, Allure, "I Want to Look Like a Carefree Rich Girl," 14 July 2017
But if shabby chic is your domestic bliss, $20 gets you in the door an hour early (9 a.m.) for first pick on Saturday and a return trip on Sunday.

— cynthia zanone, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Embrace the vintage lifestyle this weekend at Liberty Station," 13 July 2017
Should Joanna Gaines’s rustic chic ever be seen as a challenge to that California-modern banality, a great war could break out.

— richard lawson, Vanities, "Did a Car Accident Reveal a Darker Side of HGTV’s Biggest Hit?," 10 July 2017
Should Joanna Gaines’s rustic chic ever be seen as a challenge to that California-modern banality, a great war could break out.

— richard lawson, vanityfair.com, "Did a Car Accident Reveal a Darker Side of HGTV’s Biggest Hit?," 10 July 2017
The new dolls’ fashion styles range from athletic chic to business casual, with a few confusing clothing designs in between.

— ana veciana-suarez, miamiherald, "Mattel rolls out new dolls, and Ken finally catches up to Barbie," 10 July 2017
Midsummer chic seems to require looks that are overly feminine and a tad twisted, or so say this week’s most stylish.

— edward barsamian, Vogue, "10 Best Dressed: Week of July 3, 2017," 3 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of chic

French

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1856

See Words from the same year

chic Synonyms

Synonyms

buzz, fad, craze, dernier cri, enthusiasm, fashion, flavor, go, hot ticket, last word, latest, mode, rage, sensation, style, ton, trend, vogue

Related Words

nine days' wonder (also nine day wonder); new wave; crush, infatuation; fervor, passion; furor, fuss, hullabaloo, to-do, uproar; bandwagon, crusade, cult, movement; novelty, wrinkle; caprice, fancy, whim

Near Antonyms

classic, standard

chic

adjective

Definition of chic

chicer; chicest

1 :cleverly stylish :smart

the woman who is chic adapts fashion to her own personality
—Elizabeth L. Post

2 :currently fashionable

a chic restaurant

chic boutiques

—

chicly

adverb

—

chicness

noun

See chic defined for English-language learners

Examples of chic in a Sentence

The café has a chic new look.
a chic new hairstyle that makes her look very sophisticated

Recent Examples of chic from the Web

Magnises hosted gatherings at such chic venues as the Hotel on Rivington and the Gansevoort.

— kim bhasin, Bloomberg.com, "How a Black-Card Wannabe Went Down In Flames," 30 Aug. 2017
Photograph courtesy Reno Tahoe Morning Wake up in an impressively chic room at the new Reno Renaissance Downtown Hotel.

— heather platt, Los Angeles Magazine, "Reno: It’s Not Just The Place You Ignore While Skiing in Tahoe Anymore," 28 Aug. 2017
The museum, opening September 22, commands the first seven levels, the hotel—a surprisingly happy combination of industrial chic and chandeliered opulence—the top eight.

— klara glowczewska, Town & Country, "A New Cape Town Museum Will Showcase African Contemporary Art," 16 Aug. 2017
Instead, the Russian supermodel enlists her chicest friends like Doutzen Kroes, Karlie Kloss and Natasha Poly to work booths at a carnival-like soiree.

— chrissy rutherford, Harper's BAZAAR, "Natalia Vodianova to Throw The Chicest Halloween Bash in NYC," 7 Aug. 2017
While out with her boyfriend The Weeknd in Los Angeles, Selena opted for a chic but relaxed head-to-toe white ensemble to grab an iced coffee.

— alyssa hardy, Teen Vogue, "Selena Gomez Wears All White to Get Coffee With The Weeknd," 28 July 2017
Kate Middleton has been rocking the summer style scene as of late, busting out florals and sharp, chic necklines.

— lilian min, Cosmopolitan, "Kate Middleton Is Red-Hot In This Off-The-Shoulder Dress," 20 July 2017
Attire is country club casual and/or grungy YMCA chic.

— jay willis, GQ, "Steve Bannon's Devastating Paul Ryan Burn Will Make You Want to Crawl Into a Hole and Die," 18 July 2017
Don't expect to see Plainfield softball uniform chic on Paris runways any time soon.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "An American (hoodie) in Paris: Plainfield woman has chance encounter with former teammate's uniform," 5 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of chic

see ¹chic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1865

See Words from the same year

chic Synonyms

Synonyms

à la mode (also a la mode), au courant, stylish, cool [slang], exclusive, fashionable, fresh [slang], happening, hip, in, modish, sharp, smart, snappy, supercool, swell, swish, trendy, voguish

Antonyms

dowdy, out, outmoded, styleless, unchic, uncool, unfashionable, unmodish, unstylish

Related Words

downtown, edgy, funky; dapper, dashing, dressy, kicky, natty, rakish, sassy, saucy, spiffy, spruce; chichi, classy, flossy, haute (also haut), nobby, posh, ritzy, soigné (or soignée), swank (or swanky); elegant, graceful, handsome, majestic, refined, sophisticated, stately, tasteful, understated; doggish, doggy, flashy, gallant; dandyish, dudish, foppish; ultrachic, ultracool, ultrahip, ultraposh, ultrasmart, ultrasophisticated

Near Antonyms

cheesy, tacky, unattractive, unbecoming; graceless, inelegant, tasteless, trashy, unhandsome; frowsy (or frowzy), sloppy, slovenly, unkempt, untidy; disheveled (or dishevelled), messy, mussy, rumpled, wrinkled; shabby, sleazy

CHIC Defined for English Language Learners

chic

play

noun

Definition of chic for English Language Learners

: fashionable style

chic

adjective

Definition of chic for English Language Learners

: following the current fashion or style : fashionable and appealing

CHIC Defined for Kids

chic

play

noun \ ˈshēk \

Definition of chic for Students

:fashionable style

chic

adjective

Definition of chic for Students

chicer; chicest

:stylish, fashionable

chic clothes

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chic

Definition of chic

chicly

chicness

Examples of chic in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of chic

chic Synonyms

Synonyms

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Related Words

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CHIC Defined for English Language Learners

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Definition of chic for English Language Learners

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Definition of chic for English Language Learners

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