Word
haute
/ˈhət/
Definition
adj. high-class or very expensive. It usually describes things like fashion or cooking that are very high quality and follow a specific style.
adj. denoting high status, exclusivity, or superior quality, particularly in the realms of fashion and gastronomy. Borrowed from French, it is almost exclusively used in fixed phrases like 'haute couture' or 'haute cuisine'.
Examples
“She only wears haute couture to red carpet events.”
“The restaurant is famous for its haute cuisine, combining traditional techniques with modern presentation.”
“While the designer's main line is accessible to the public, his haute couture collection remains a strictly bespoke service for a handful of elite clients worldwide.”
Examples
simple
“She only wears haute couture to red carpet events.”
contextual
“The restaurant is famous for its haute cuisine, combining traditional techniques with modern presentation.”
complex
“While the designer's main line is accessible to the public, his haute couture collection remains a strictly bespoke service for a handful of elite clients worldwide.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun in specific French-derived loan phrases.
Real-World Examples
“In contrast, the refinement of stock into consommé – a clarified, crystal-clear soup – was documented within French haute cuisine.” Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from French, extracted from terms such as haute cuisine and haute couture.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/haute