chic
/ʃiːk/ (bre, ipa) · /ʃiːk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈshēk/ (ame, mw)
chic — adjective
- chicpositive
- chiccercomparative
- chiccestsuperlative
1. Smart and attractive in a way that follows current fashions and shows good taste
Smart and attractive in a way that follows current fashions and shows good taste — used to describe clothes, places, objects, or a person's look.
Theo wore a chic black suit to the gallery opening in Milan.
Aiko picked a chic linen dress for her summer wedding reception.
collocation: chic + [dress/suit/outfit] for stylish clothing
The rooftop bar at the Harbour Hotel has a very chic atmosphere.
Leila transformed her tiny apartment into a chic city home.
Diego bought a chic leather backpack for his trip through Japan.
- elegant
More formal; suggests grace and refinement rather than trend-following
- stylish
Broader term; chic implies an understated, sophisticated stylishness
- fashionable
Emphasises alignment with current trends; chic adds a layer of taste
- trendy
More informal and fleeting; chic feels more timeless and curated
- unfashionable
Opposite in terms of trend-following
- frumpy
Describes a dull, old-fashioned appearance
用法筆記
Common in fashion, design, and lifestyle writing. The comparative 'chicer' and superlative 'chicest' are rare — 'more chic' and 'most chic' are preferred in formal and informal use alike.
常見錯誤
chic — noun
1. A smart, elegant style that combines current fashion with good taste — used of a
A smart, elegant style that combines current fashion with good taste — used of a person's appearance, the design of a room, or an object.
Priya has a natural chic that comes from simple clothes.
uncountable noun pattern: [adjective] + chic (natural chic, modern chic)
The hotel blends modern chic with warm wooden furniture.
Yara's new apartment has a quiet Parisian chic that visitors admire.
There's an effortless chic about Rohan's style that requires no designer labels.
The store mixes industrial chic with warm home touches.
- style
Broader and more common than chic; chic implies a specific sophisticated taste
- elegance
More formal; emphasises grace over trend-consciousness
- fashionableness
Literal but clumsy; chic carries a lighter, more natural tone
- sophistication
Focuses on worldly knowledge and refinement rather than fashion
用法筆記
Uncountable. Most commonly used in the pattern [adjective] + chic, where the adjective names the style type — e.g. Parisian chic, boho chic, modern chic, understated chic, urban chic. The word rarely appears alone as a subject; it is typically modified by a preceding adjective.