mystique

noun mys·tique \ mi-ˈstēk \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 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

The fact that this pair were the aunt and cousin of the former first lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis and her sister, the socialite Lee Radziwill, added to their peculiar mystique.

— glenn kenny, New York Times, "Review: ‘That Summer’ Sheds Light on the Beales Before ‘Grey Gardens’," 17 May 2018
An easy win in the Belmont Stakes only added to his what-could’ve-been mystique.

— jonas shaffer, baltimoresun.com, "Justify is the early favorite in the Preakness, but he's also far from a sure thing," 12 May 2018
Nixon seemed doubly advantaged–a star accustomed to sharing her mystique with her public, and an insurgent candidate making connections not available to a traditional politician.

— daniel d'addario, Time, "Sex and the City’s Cynthia Nixon Says She's a 'Candidate of This Time.' How the Actor Is Carving Her Role in Politics," 10 May 2018
And her willingness to be vulnerable and bare her soul only amplifies her mystique.

— chioma nnadi, Vogue, "Rihanna on Body Image, Turning 30, and Staying Real—No Matter What," 3 May 2018
The light design, too, was in thrall of her Gothic mystique, pulsing and roaming ever so slightly in deep shades of red, white and blue.

— james reed, latimes.com, "Swoops, shrieks and croons: Diamanda Galás transfixes at Palace Theatre," 27 Apr. 2018
Though 19th-century creators of croquet shoes would never have predicted today’s sneaker-style fanaticism, Smith believes that sneakers have carried a certain mystique beyond their utilitarian purpose since their invention.

— kate keller, Smithsonian, "A Brief History of America’s Obsession With Sneakers," 18 May 2018
When the likes of Ketel Marte and Jeff Mathis are taking you deep back-to-back, a certain amount of mystique is lost, and that has appeared to carry over to this season.

— jorge l. ortiz, USA TODAY, "Clayton Kershaw's arm injury, trip to DL latest sign of mortality for Dodgers great," 6 May 2018
Today, the good doctor, a six-time Grammy winner, is one of the most recognizable faces, and voices, of New Orleans, the conjurer of a musical mystique that continues to capture the imagination.

— mike scott, NOLA.com, "Just what the (voodoo) doctor ordered: Or, how Mac Rebennack become Dr. John," 5 May 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