Boutique Meaning
/buˈtik/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA small shop, especially one that sells fashionable clothes, jewelry and the like.
nounA small shop located within a larger one.
Sentence Examples
They stayed at a small, but luxurious boutique hotel in the heart of Berlin.
He entered the boutique.
The clothes at this boutique are particularly expensive.
CEFR Practice Quiz
She bought a designer dress from the exclusive ____ on the corner.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She bought a very expensive silk scarf from a small ____ in the city.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from French boutique. Doublet of apothecary, apotheke, and bodega.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The audacious hijacking in Paris of a van carrying the baggage of a Saudi prince to his private jet is obviously an embarrassment to the French capital, whose ultra-high-end boutiques have suffered a spate of heists in recent months."
— 2014 August 21, “A brazen heist in Paris [print version: International New York Times, 22 August 2014, p. 8]”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 17 Dec 2020:
"The 55-year-old, who worked as a nurse liaison for 30 years before opening her clothing boutique in 2014, began streaming fashion shows on Facebook Live featuring herself wearing the clothes, jewelry and accessories she sells."
— 2020 August 16, Alaa Elassar, “A small boutique survived the coronavirus pandemic by live streaming fashion shows on Facebook”, in CNN, archived from the original on 10 Mar 2026:
"To keep attracting clients, the law firm of the future just might turn into a legal boutique, says Earle Yaffa, the managing director […]"
— 1982, ABA Journal, volume 68, page 661:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
She bought a designer dress from the exclusive ____ on the corner.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
She bought a very expensive silk scarf from a small ____ in the city.