frou-frou

American  

[froo-froo] / ˈfruˌfru /

Or froufrou

noun

1. elaborate decoration, as frills, ribbons, or ruffles, especially on women's clothing.

2. elaborate detail.

3. a rustling, particularly the rustling of silk, as in a woman's dress.

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adjective

1. elaborately decorated; fussy.

   frou-frou bedroom decor.

2. having elaborate detail.

   We laughed at all the frou-frou descriptions on the menu.

Etymology

Origin of frou-frou

First recorded in 1865–70; from French; imitative

Example Sentences

Coquilles Saint-Jacques is essentially a frou-frou description for scallops au gratin, more often prepared as a casserole than in those magical shells which are harder to find these days.

From Salon • Nov. 1, 2025

A community frequently derided as frou-frou and out of touch with the rest of Orange County ached and remembered, in places expected and not.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 28, 2020

This evolution is at the heart of no-makeup makeup and the ongoing rise of frou-frou skincare, as well as the turn away from framing weight loss as a quest to well, lose weight.

From Slate • Apr. 30, 2019

Negan's frou-frou scarf makes him look like a menacing Freddie Mercury, ready to break out into a show choir song and dance routine.

From New York Times • Oct. 23, 2016

“Constance, can’t you be more understanding? I’ve business to attend to. Men’s business. And the club’s accommodations are far more suitable for that sort of thing than this ridiculous frou-frou of a house, what?”

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood