mystique

noun mys·tique \ mi-ˈstēk \

|Updated on: 27 Jul 2018

Examples: mystique in a Sentence

Definition of mystique

1 : an air or attitude of mystery (see ¹mystery 2) and reverence developing around something or someone

the legendary singer's mystique

the mystique of the liturgy

2 : the special esoteric skill essential in a calling or activity

the mystique of yoga

the mystique of hang gliding

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See mystique defined for kids

Examples of mystique in a Sentence

There's a certain mystique to people who fight fires.
No one has been able to copy the legendary singer's mystique.
the mystique of mountain climbing

Recent Examples of mystique from the Web

One possible market is Portugal, where the Gorongosa name enjoys colonial-era mystique.

— Washington Post, "Coffee and conservation: Mozambique tries both on a mountain," 11 July 2018
One possible market is Portugal, where the Gorongosa name enjoys colonial-era mystique.

— christopher torchia, Fox News, "Coffee and conservation: Mozambique tries both on a mountain," 11 July 2018
The Griffon's age and elusiveness have contributed to its mystique.

— ann zaniewski, Detroit Free Press, "8 undiscovered shipwrecks of the Great Lakes," 22 June 2018
Those legends gave the character a certain mystique that now, to a certain degree, is gone, whereas a one-off mission with just Han and Chewbacca getting into trouble — and not being so fan service-y — may have been embraced by a wider audience.

— brian truitt, USA TODAY, "Even 'Star Wars' can flop: 5 lessons learned from 'Solo's lackluster reception," 3 June 2018
The obsession with the length of the Belmont Stakes is part of the mystique of this race.

— john cherwa, latimes.com, "Distance is part of the mystique of the Belmont Stakes," 7 June 2018
Still others are trying to cultivate a sense of mystique or exclusivity around the property.

— katherine clarke, WSJ, "How Much Is That Luxury Home? It’s a Secret," 29 Mar. 2018
Part of that mystique was lifted Sunday for a couple of dozen visitors who paid to tour the world's largest Masonic Temple and learn about the history of the nearly 100-year old building.

— Detroit Free Press, "Tour offers a peek inside Detroit's Masonic Temple," 17 June 2018
In some sense, Lost Tapes is revered based on its idea: the vision of a vault of stashed away Nas songs carries a bit of mystique that adds to his story.

— Billboard, "Every Nas Album Ranked: Critic's Picks," 15 June 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of mystique

borrowed from French, derivative of mystique, adjective, "magical, mystical," going back to Middle French, "having a hidden meaning," borrowed from Latin mysticus "secret" — more at ¹mystic

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1891

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year