Boutonniere
boo-tuh-NYAIR
/ˌbuːtənˈjɛər/
A floral decoration or single flower worn in the lapel buttonhole of a jacket.
Worn on special occasions such as weddings, galas, and formal ceremonies.
The story behind the word. From French 'boutonnière' meaning 'buttonhole'. Knights in the Middle Ages allegedly wore their lady's favorite flowers in their armor, which later transformed into wearing fresh blooms in coat buttonholes.
Word relationships
- buttonhole flower: Buttonhole flower is a plain descriptive term, whereas boutonniere is the formal French-derived noun.
Commonly confused with
- corsage: A corsage is a flower arrangement worn by women on dress straps or wrists, while a boutonniere is worn on lapels.
Word family
- boutonnieres (noun): Plural form of boutonniere.
Collocations
- rose boutonniere
- carnation boutonniere
- pin a boutonniere
- lapel boutonniere
Example sentences
- "The groom pinned a white carnation boutonniere onto his lapel before entering the chapel." Wedding coverage
- "A properly placed boutonniere should slide neatly into the left lapel buttonhole." Etiquette essay
Memory hook
A BOUTON (button) hole is where you slip this floral decor ON NEAR your chest. Flower in the lapel buttonhole.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a full bouquet or flower arrangements not pinned to lapels.
Fun facts
- Traditional bespoke suit jackets feature a silk loop behind the lapel to hold the stem of a boutonniere in place.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.