nouveau

adjective

nou·​veau nü-ˈvō 

: newly arrived or developed

Examples of nouveau in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

None of it looks pristine, like some nouveau tailoring house where everything is just so, but lived in and imperfect. —Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 24 Mar. 2026

Crockett’s nouveau approach to campaigning caught up with her. —Philip Elliott, Time, 4 Mar. 2026

The nouveau American fashion conglomerate was poised to rival European competitors like Louis Vuitton and Hermes owner LVMH and Gucci owner Kering—with soaring revenues to boot. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2026

America in all its decadence, in all its beauty, in all its nouveau naffness, and in all its total dominion over the entire Western world. —Mason Leath, ABC News, 19 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "new," going back to Middle French (back-formation from the plural nouveaulx, nouveaux), going back to Old French novel, going back to Latin novellus "young, tender (of plants or animals)," from novus "new" + -ellus, diminutive suffix — more at new entry 1

First Known Use

1828, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing nouveau

• art nouveau
• Beaujolais nouveau
• nouveau riche

Rhymes for nouveau

• afterglow
• akimbo
• albino
• aliquot
• allegro
• amigo
• apropos
• audio
• bungalow
• calico
• calypso
• cameo