cachet

noun

ca·​chet ka-ˈshā How to pronounce cachet (audio)
1
a
: a seal used especially as a mark of official approval
b
: an indication of approval carrying great prestige
The president placed his cachet on the project.
2
a
: a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige
regarded the possession of real estate as a cachet of respectability
b
: prestige
being rich … doesn't have the cachet it used toTruman Capote
3
: a medicinal preparation for swallowing consisting of a case usually of rice-flour paste enclosing a medicine
4
a
: a design or inscription on an envelope to commemorate a postal or philatelic event
b
: an advertisement forming part of a postage meter impression
c
: a motto or slogan included in a postal cancellation (see cancellation sense 3)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between cache and cachet?

Although the two words come from the same root (the French cacher, meaning "to press, hide"), cache and cachet have different meanings. Cache primarily refers to a thing that is hidden or stored somewhere, or to the place where it is hidden. It has recently taken on another common meaning, "short-term computer memory where information is stored for easy retrieval." Cachet usually means "prestige" or "a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige."

What is the difference between cachet and prestige?

Several of the senses of cachet are similar, or synonymous with prestige; among its definitions are "a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige," "an indication of approval carrying great prestige," and "prestige." However, cachet does have additional meanings which share little of their meaning with prestige, including "a medicinal preparation for swallowing," and "a seal used especially as a mark of official approval."

How do you pronounce cachet?

Cache and cash are pronounced the same, but cachet is pronounced \cash-AY. Cachet and cache share the same origin, the French cacher "to press, hide"; cash, however, comes from a different root, the Latin word for "chest" (capsa).

Examples of cachet in a Sentence

a movie director with great artistic cachet His research in Antarctica gave him a certain cachet among other scientists.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Advantages of Penthouses There’s more to living in a penthouse than the social cachet. Michael Y. Park, Architectural Digest, 10 Sep. 2024 One proposal put forward by the EFA is to create a Made in Europe label to add cultural cachet to goods made in the bloc. Rhonda Richford, WWD, 5 Dec. 2024 The Bears will need some big hitters involved with more cachet than Johnson. Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 29 Nov. 2024 While Jaguar has cachet as a brand, until last week not many people were talking about it. Megan Poinski, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cachet 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, "small seal with a coat of arms and initials engraved or in relief used to seal documents, a document so sealed, mark of approval, distinctive character," going back to Middle French, from cacher "to press" + -et -et entry 1 (here as a suffix of instrument) — more at cache entry 1

Note: See note at cache entry 1.

First Known Use

circa 1639, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of cachet was circa 1639

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Dictionary Entries Near cachet

Cite this Entry

“Cachet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cachet. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

cachet

noun
ca·​chet ka-ˈshā How to pronounce cachet (audio)
: a medicinal preparation for swallowing consisting of a case usually of rice-flour paste containing an unpleasant-tasting medicine

called also wafer, wafer capsule

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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