English Reference
Noun

boudoir

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US /ˈbuˌdɔɪɹ/ UK /bˈuːdwɑː/ boudoir UK spelling boudoirs Military

n.a private room in a house, especially one used by a woman for dressing or resting. It is a very formal or old-fashioned word for a bedroom.

n.a private room, typically used by a woman for dressing or retiring. Often carries a connotation of intimacy or privacy, and is frequently used in historical or literary contexts.


SIMPLE

She spent the afternoon reading in her boudoir.

CONTEXTUAL

The mansion featured a grand boudoir decorated with velvet curtains and a large four-poster bed.

COMPLEX

In the era of strict social etiquette, the boudoir served as a sanctuary where a woman could be alone with her thoughts, away from the formal demands of the drawing room.


Borrowed from French boudoir, from bouder (“to sulk”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin French boudoir
Level C2 · Proficiency
Frequency Occasional
Updated