chic
Americanadjective
noun
-
style and elegance, especially in dress.
Paris clothes have such chic.
-
stylishness; modishness.
the chic of the firstnighters.
-
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.
adjective
noun
-
stylishness, esp in dress; modishness; fashionable good taste
-
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
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.
Naoshi’s pieces usually center around a chic ingenue sporting food-focused fashion — think bonnets made of bonbons and boba tea skirts.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
Herbal tea may sound a little grandma-ish — and perhaps it is — but it’s also secretly extremely chic.
From Salon • Mar. 9, 2026
It also has a design vibe akin to the chic, new lounges from Chase and Capital One.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026
Upon entering the home, guests are greeted with a chic dining area to their right, which boasts modern overhead lighting and a large window.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026
A tight-fitting little black coat and skirt, white satin blouse, small chic black toque perched at the fashionable outrageous angle.
From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
