coquette

noun

co·​quette kō-ˈket 

plural coquettes

1

: a woman who endeavors without sincere affection to gain the attention and admiration of men

… the book brought to mind a true Southern coquette, flashy and sweet and alluring all at the same time.

—Tina Jordan

2

: any of several small, tropical American hummingbirds (genus Lophornis) with the males typically having a colorful or ornate tuft of feathers on the head

… the rufous-crested coquette, a tiny hummingbird (with a red mohawk "hair-do") that was just as … flirty as its name.

—Thelma Dalmas

But the tiniest of these hummers was the one that elicited the most excitement: a festive coquette, an extremely rare green-crested bird with a white rump patch, only 3 inches long.

—James F. McCarty

coquettish

kō-ˈke-tish 

adjective

coquettishly adverb

coquettishness noun

Examples of coquette in a Sentence

She was a bit of a coquette.

Recent Examples on the Web

Mix up the coquette and the macabre with a light pink mug that features a pattern of both skulls and bows; opt for a shiny pink cauldron to lean into a feminine Halloween; or go for the cute figural option of a smiling ghost. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026

The front of Sweeney’s plunging bra was also trimmed with blush pink lace, giving the set a coquette quality. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 26 July 2026

For example, shop a LoveShackFancy x Target WetBrush with a light pink coquette bow print to detangle your hair. — ABC News, 7 July 2026

Paired with a signature lace trim, Mendoza’s one-of-a-kind pieces are coquette staples that balance cultural pride and individuality. — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, feminine of coquet — see coquet entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for coquette

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• binet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

coquette

noun

co·​quette kō-ˈket 

: a woman who tries without sincere affection to gain the attention and admiration of men : flirt

coquettish

-ˈket-ish 

adjective

coquettishly adverb

coquettishness noun