cachet

noun

ca·​chet ka-ˈshā 

1

a

: a seal used especially as a mark of official approval

b

: an indication of approval carrying great prestige

The president placed his cachet on the project.

2

a

: a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige

regarded the possession of real estate as a cachet of respectability

b

: prestige

being rich … doesn't have the cachet it used to

—Truman Capote

3

: a medicinal preparation for swallowing consisting of a case usually of rice-flour paste enclosing a medicine

4

a

: a design or inscription on an envelope to commemorate a postal or philatelic event

b

: an advertisement forming part of a postage meter impression

c

: a motto or slogan included in a postal cancellation (see cancellation sense 3)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between cache and cachet?

Although the two words come from the same root (the French cacher, meaning "to press, hide"), cache and cachet have different meanings. Cache primarily refers to a thing that is hidden or stored somewhere, or to the place where it is hidden. It has recently taken on another common meaning, "short-term computer memory where information is stored for easy retrieval." Cachet usually means "prestige" or "a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige."

What is the difference between cachet and prestige?

Several of the senses of cachet are similar, or synonymous with prestige; among its definitions are "a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige," "an indication of approval carrying great prestige," and "prestige." However, cachet does have additional meanings which share little of their meaning with prestige, including "a medicinal preparation for swallowing," and "a seal used especially as a mark of official approval."

How do you pronounce cachet?

Cache and cash are pronounced the same, but cachet is pronounced \cash-AY. Cachet and cache share the same origin, the French cacher "to press, hide"; cash, however, comes from a different root, the Latin word for "chest" (capsa).

Examples of cachet in a Sentence

a movie director with great artistic cachet

His research in Antarctica gave him a certain cachet among other scientists.

Recent Examples on the Web

Maybe there’s a possibility that DVDs could become the new vinyl — another outdated format, which turned its impracticality into cachet. —Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 9 July 2024

Soon, the bowling shirt was like tennis shoes or baseball caps—fashion with a cultural cachet independent of its sporty origins. —Gabe Bullard, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 July 2024

Standing in her way are some primary candidates with more local cachet, such as former state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg and Deborah Flora, a former Miss Colorado and local talk radio host. —Geoffrey Skelley, ABC News, 24 June 2024

British tea culture still has a cachet around the world, and still means something at home. —Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune Europe, 3 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "small seal with a coat of arms and initials engraved or in relief used to seal documents, a document so sealed, mark of approval, distinctive character," going back to Middle French, from cacher "to press" + -et -et entry 1 (here as a suffix of instrument) — more at cache entry 1

Note: See note at cache entry 1.

First Known Use

circa 1639, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cachet

• lettre de cachet

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Medical Definition

cachet

noun

ca·​chet ka-ˈshā 

: a medicinal preparation for swallowing consisting of a case usually of rice-flour paste containing an unpleasant-tasting medicine

called also wafer, wafer capsule