a small, fashionable shop that sells stylish clothes or other specialized goods
The new boutique on Main Street sells handmade leather bags.
She opened a vintage clothing boutique after graduating from design school.
✦ Borrowed into English in the mid-20th century from French “boutique” meaning “shop,” which ultimately comes from Greek “apothēkē,” storehouse.
describing a business, product, or service that is small, specialized, and fashionable
They stayed at a boutique hotel with only ten rooms.
The agency is a boutique firm focusing on eco-friendly brands.
✦ Extended from the noun sense to an attributive adjective in late 20th-century business jargon, highlighting the idea of exclusivity and specialization.
