chic

1 of 2

noun

1
: smart elegance and sophistication especially of dress or manner : style
wears her clothes with superb chic
2
: a distinctive mode of dress or manner associated with a fashionable lifestyle, ideology, or pursuit
wearing the latest in urban chic
New Age chic
3
: a faddishly popular quality or appeal
also : something (such as a practice or interest) having such appeal
the transient tides of academic chic Irving Kristol

chic

2 of 2

adjective

chicer; chicest
1
: cleverly stylish : smart
the woman who is chic adapts fashion to her own personalityElizabeth L. Post
2
: currently fashionable
a chic restaurant
chic boutiques
chicly adverb
chicness noun

Examples of chic in a Sentence

Noun It's the height of chic this year. mockumentaries are the latest filmmaking chic Adjective The café has a chic new look. a chic new hairstyle that makes her look very sophisticated
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The rear seats cocoon occupants in plush blue leather seats, and the Apollo’s reading lamps look like a hilarious afterthought, but are also somehow mid-century modern chic. Logan Carter / Jalopnik, Quartz, 3 Apr. 2024 Long before the words quiet luxury were ever uttered, The Row established itself as the archetype of anonymous chic. Alexis Bennett Parker, Vogue, 25 Mar. 2024 The event, which is currently known as Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo, is also known for its bold street style, with guests seen sporting everything from gothic chic to quirky Lolita-style fashion. CNN, 19 Mar. 2024 This collection is a harmonious blend of classic finesse and contemporary chic, offering everything from suave suits that command the room's attention to leisure pieces that embody effortless sophistication. Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 16 Mar. 2024 Not to say what Winslet recounts isn’t compelling: becoming a famous woman in the ’90s era of waif-like chic was nothing short of harrowing. Longreads, 8 Mar. 2024 What happens when a fashion house outlives its founder? Paris Fashion Week has always centered designers from around the world, offering a creative vision of French chic from an outsider perspective, from German designer Karl Lagerfeld to Japanese creatives including Yohji Yamamoto. Alice Pfeiffer, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 Elena’s outfits — a kind of Alpine-totalitarian chic — convey sexuality intertwined with fearsomeness. James Poniewozik, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 The look is also related (a cousin, maybe) to geek chic, which has been embraced by Kaia Gerber, Sydney Sweeney, and Hunter Schafer, among others, according to Vogue. Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 27 Feb. 2024
Adjective
The actress served up some fashion nostalgia in a chic skirt and vest reminiscent of her iconic 1990s style for a screening Meg Ryan’s latest look is serving up a healthy dose of nostalgia. Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2024 For wellness aficionados, there’s a nearby gym that connects to the back terrace, along with a chic steam room and a shower area. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2024 The Cheapest Nicest Hotels in Paris The chicest Parisian stays from $94 USD a night. Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2024 This summer, as Dorsia’s members go on vacation, the app promises to be ready with tables at the chicest restaurants in Ibiza, in Mykonos, and along the French Riviera and the Amalfi Coast. Adam Iscoe, The New Yorker, 22 Apr. 2024 Homeowner Gail Otter’s chic galley kitchen includes a Liebherr 24-inch-wide refrigerator, GE Profile 18-inch dishwasher and Hallman range. Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024 Read Next South Carolina Former Super Bowl-winning NFL kicker lists his chic South Carolina estate. Tj MacIas, Sacramento Bee, 16 Apr. 2024 The perennially chic actor took a stroll in New York yesterday in a denim iteration of office-friendly suiting. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 10 Apr. 2024 Her collection of photos and videos featured shots of herself looking chic while out and about, dressed in a leather trench coat and stilettos, and dining at the Manhattan hot-spot Altro Paradiso. Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French

Adjective

probably from attributive use of chic entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1865, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chic was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near chic

Cite this Entry

“Chic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chic. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

chic

1 of 2 noun
: fashionable style

chic

2 of 2 adjective
chicer; chicest
: stylish, smart
chic clothes

More from Merriam-Webster on chic

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