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
Irving Kristol
chicer; chicest
1
: cleverly stylish : smart
The woman who is chic adapts fashion to her own personality.—Elizabeth L. Post
Elizabeth L. Post2
: 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
Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2026
Warehouse chic was already a contemporary-art gallery cliché 20 years ago, but OMA was wise not to force an upgrade on a design that explicitly rejected sleekness.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 19 Mar. 2026
Minty Mellon, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2026
The result is a chic outfit that’s modern and sophisticated.
—Clare Holden, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chic
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Noun
As Xander Harris, Brendon helped usher in geek chic of the ‘90s.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 Mar. 2026
Warehouse chic was already a contemporary-art gallery cliché 20 years ago, but OMA was wise not to force an upgrade on a design that explicitly rejected sleekness.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The key to a wardrobe staple is its year-round sensibility, and flat boots are a chic, practical option that transitions seamlessly between seasons.
—Minty Mellon, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2026
The result is a chic outfit that’s modern and sophisticated.
—Clare Holden, Glamour, 23 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chic
Cite this Entry
“Chic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chic. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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