boutique
boo-TEEK
/buːˈtiːk/
A small shop selling fashionable clothes, jewelry, or other specialty luxury goods.
Suggests exclusivity, high prices, and a curated selection, rather than mass-market appeal.
The story behind the word. It traveled from the Greek 'apotheke' to the Old French 'botique'. Interestingly, 'apothecary' (a pharmacy) comes from the same root!
Word relationships
- specialty shop: Specialty shop is more functional; boutique implies style and fashion.
- department store: A department store is massive and sells a wide variety of goods.
Commonly confused with
- kiosk: A boutique is a permanent room/shop; a kiosk is a small stand in a hallway.
Collocations
- fashion boutique
- upscale boutique
- independent boutique
Example sentences
- "She preferred the unique, handmade items found in a small boutique over the mass-produced goods of the department store." A classic literary description of a high-end shop.
Memory hook
Boutiques are 'Beautiful' and 'Unique'. Small, stylish, and pricey.
When not to use
Do not use for large supermarkets or hardware stores.
Fun facts
- The term 'boutique hotel' was coined in the 1980s to describe small, stylish hotels that felt like fashion shops.
Also appears in
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