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
Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
While traveling to the next stop on her comeback tour, the singer looked cozy chic in a chocolate brown matching set, which included a half-zip sweatshirt similar to the light brown pullover sweater Oprah recently wore and cuffed joggers.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Diana Oates, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026
From plane-ready outfits and supportive shoes built for long sightseeing days to chic luggage, must-have travel bags, and tech that keeps everything charged, tracked, and stress-free, this sale covers every corner of your packing list.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for chic
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Noun
The interior is Italian social-club-cafeteria chic, with pastel murals, slightly grim lighting, and a long line of patrons snaking through the space.
—Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Feb. 2026
While traveling to the next stop on her comeback tour, the singer looked cozy chic in a chocolate brown matching set, which included a half-zip sweatshirt similar to the light brown pullover sweater Oprah recently wore and cuffed joggers.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Order a drink while reading a book under a chic and shady cabana.
—Diana Oates, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026
From plane-ready outfits and supportive shoes built for long sightseeing days to chic luggage, must-have travel bags, and tech that keeps everything charged, tracked, and stress-free, this sale covers every corner of your packing list.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 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 9 Feb. 2026.
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