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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
Grace Gavilanes, People.com, 20 July 2025
With 19 rooms and suites, plus an intimate spa, boutique, and pool hidden away among tropical foliage, Lula feels decidedly more wellness-focused than its sister properties.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2025
At this boutique property, bungalows sometimes book up to a year in advance by guests who don’t want to skip a season at Playa Grande.
—Carley Rojas Ávila, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
Don’t miss Tin City, a collection of industrial buildings that house local winemakers, brewers, and distilleries, before turning in for the night at luxurious, boutique property Hotel Cheval.
—Jessie Beck, AFAR Media, 17 July 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 25 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
boutique
noun
from French boutique "shop"
Legal Definition
boutique
noun
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