haute

American

[oht] / oʊt /

especially before a vowel haut

adjective

high-class or high-toned; fancy.

an haute restaurant that attracts a monied crowd.
high; elevated; upper.

Etymology

Origin of haute

1780–90; generalized from haute couture, haute cuisine, etc.; < French, feminine of haut literally, high; haughty

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He did a poorly received grunge collection that incoherently tried to marry haute couture with thrift-store shabbiness, and was fired for it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

The world of haute cuisine is currently confronting mounting accusations about the treatment of staff at top restaurants.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

According to Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, experimenting with haute couture can serve as a confidence booster.

From Barron's • Feb. 8, 2026

Her Highland gothic outfits match traditional Scottish heritage style with haute couture and a twist of the unexpected.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026

Then the fad spread to two fashion designers who used the shoes to peddle something else — haute couture.

From "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023