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Apothecaries, Bodegas, and Boutiques
Apothecary, bodega, and boutique may not look very similar, but they are all related both in meaning and in origin. Each of these words can be traced back to a Latin word for “storehouse” (apotheca), and each one refers in English to a retail establishment of some sort. Although bodega initially meant “a storehouse for wine,” it now most commonly refers to a grocery store in an urban area, especially one that specializes in Hispanic groceries. Boutique has also taken on new meanings: its first sense in English (“a small retail store”) is still current, but it now may also denote “a small company that offers highly specialized products or services.” Of the three words, apothecary has changed the least; it has gone from referring solely to the person who sells drugs or medicines to also naming the store where such goods are sold.
Examples of boutique in a Sentence
Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 3 June 2025
Related Articles The flagship boutique on Paris’ Rue de la Paix is slated for a revamp and expansion as one of the first priorities post-acquisition and international expansion is in the cards longer term.
—Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 3 June 2025
Located in Nashville’s Gulch neighborhood, the boutique hotelier is offering 84 ultra-luxury private residences that will be situated across the top 15 floors of the city’s new Edition hotel, with two half-floor penthouses occupying the very top.
—Emma Kershaw, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Plus prioritizing your own sense of style through table books and art can complete the space in boutique fashion.
—Jacorey Moon, Architectural Digest, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for boutique
Cite this Entry
“Boutique.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boutique. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
boutique
noun
from French boutique "shop"
Legal Definition
boutique
noun
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