# bohemian

/boʊˈhimiən/ (US) · /bəʊhˈiːmiən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bohemian
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. unconventional lifestyle

adjective · CEFR B2

living or acting in a way that is different from most people, especially if you are an artist or writer.

For teachers: unconventional in appearance or behavior, typically associated with artistic or intellectual subcultures that reject bourgeois values.

- They lived a bohemian life in a small apartment filled with books and paintings.
- The neighborhood was famous for its bohemian atmosphere, attracting poets and musicians who rejected the rigid expectations of corporate society.

### 2. an unconventional person

noun · CEFR B2

a person, often an artist, who does not follow the usual rules of social behavior.

For teachers: a person who lives an unconventional or nonconformist lifestyle, often in an artistic or intellectual community.

- As a young bohemian, he spent his days writing poetry in local cafés.
- The biography depicts her as a true bohemian who valued creative freedom far above financial security or social status.

### 3. relating to Bohemia

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

related to the historical region of Bohemia in the Czech Republic.

For teachers: relating to the historical region of Bohemia or its inhabitants. Usually capitalized in this sense.

- The museum has a beautiful collection of antique Bohemian glass.
- The scholar specialized in Bohemian history, focusing specifically on the political shifts within the region during the seventeenth century.

### 4. a person from Bohemia

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

someone who comes from the region of Bohemia.

For teachers: a native or inhabitant of the historical region of Bohemia. Usually capitalized in this sense.

- Many Bohemians moved to the United States in the late nineteenth century.
- The census records indicate that the neighborhood was primarily composed of Bohemians and other Central European immigrants.

## Examples

- She has a very bohemian style of dress.
- The artist lived a bohemian life in a small, cluttered apartment filled with paintings and books.
- The bohemian quarter of the city attracted writers and musicians who rejected traditional career paths in favor of creative expression and communal living.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.