chic

American  

[sheek] / ʃik /

adjective

chicer, chicest

1. attractive and fashionable; stylish.

   a chic hat.

   Synonyms:

   modish, elegant, smart

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noun

1. style and elegance, especially in dress.

   Paris clothes have such chic.

2. stylishness; modishness.

   the chic of the firstnighters.

3. casual and understated style, as in dress or décor, that expresses a specified trendy lifestyle or activity.

   Black-rimmed glasses bring some geek chic to your outfit.

chic British  

/ ʃiːk, ʃɪk /

adjective

1. (esp of fashionable clothes, women, etc) stylish or elegant

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noun

1. stylishness, esp in dress; modishness; fashionable good taste

2. any of various fashion movements based on a particular lifestyle

   radical chic

   geek chic

Pronunciation

The spelling pronunciation is considered nonstandard except when used facetiously.

Other Word Forms

• chicly adverb
• chicness noun
• superchic adjective
• ultrachic adjective

Etymology

Origin of chic

1855–60; < French < German Schick skill

Explanation

Something that's chic is fashionable or stylish. If you see a chic outfit in the window of a chic boutique, you might imagine that buying it will make you as chic as a fashion model. Chic can also be used as an noun to mean a specific type of stylishness or coolness, like a downtown urban chic (skinny jeans, perhaps), or nerdy chic (big glasses). Chic is a French word, so remember, whether it's an adjective or a noun, to pronounce it as “sheek” and not “chick,” so you can sound as chic as you look!

Example Sentences

The design eschews signaling traditional utility in favor of a jocund modernism—call it orbital chic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

She casts her eyes across this leafy street in central Tehran, which sits midway between the affluent north with its glittering shops and chic cafes, and the poorer, more conservative south.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Gone is the film that stood out from a crowd of summer blockbusters with its smart script and chic sensibilities.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

Once they step inside, they are met with an elegant foyer that features a chic wooden staircase, high ceilings, and a sparkling chandelier.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

They were universally unfashionable—not retro chic, just old, and they smelled old too.

From "How Dare the Sun Rise" by Sandra Uwiringiyimana

Related Words

• elegant
• exclusive
• mod
• modern
• stylish
• swank
• trendy