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REFERENCE

niche

US //ˈnɪtʃ// UK //nˈiːʃ// niche
  1. 1 a specialized role or market (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a specific area of interest or a small, specialized market for a product.

    a specialized segment of the market for a particular kind of product or service.

    Example

    The company found a profitable niche selling organic food for parrots.

    Example

    By focusing on high-end artisanal stationery, the small business successfully carved out a niche in an increasingly digital marketplace.
  2. 2 a suitable position (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a job or activity that is very suitable for you.

    a position or activity that particularly suits somebody's talents and personality.

    Example

    After years of searching, he finally found his niche as a high school teacher.

    Example

    She struggled in corporate law but eventually found her niche working for a non-profit environmental advocacy group.
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  1. 3 ecology (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    the specific role or position an animal or plant has in its environment.

    the specific functional role and position of an organism or population within an ecosystem.

    Example

    Each bird species in the forest occupies a different ecological niche.

    Example

    The introduction of invasive species often disrupts the delicate balance of the local ecosystem by competing for the same ecological niche.

  2. 4 wall recess (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    a small hollow space in a wall, often used for a statue or decoration.

    a shallow decorative recess or hollow in a wall, typically used for displaying a statue, bust, or ornament.

    Example

    The marble statue stood in a small niche near the entrance of the museum.

    Example

    The architect designed several arched niches along the hallway to showcase the client's collection of classical sculptures.
  3. 5 specialized (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    describing something that appeals to a small, specialized group of people.

    denoting or relating to products, services, or interests that appeal to a small, specialized section of the population.

    Example

    He listens to a niche genre of electronic music that few people know.

    Example

    The magazine caters to a niche audience of vintage watch collectors and horological historians.
  4. 6 to specialize (v.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Formal

    to focus on a very specific or narrow area of a market.

    to specialize in a particular narrow section of the market or a specific functional area.

    Example

    The law firm decided to niche down and only handle patent cases.

    Example

    In a crowded industry, many consultants choose to niche their services to command higher fees from specific client types.
Origin

Unadapted borrowing from French niche, from Middle French niche, from Old French niche, from nicher (“to make a nest”) (modern French nicher), from Vulgar Latin *nīdicāre, from Latin nīdus (“nest”). Doublet of nidus and nide via Latin and nest via Proto-Indo-European; also related to nyas.

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