chichi C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈʃiːʃiː/ UK /ˈʃiːʃiː/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj pretentiously elegant or fashionable; affectedly stylish They dined at a chichi little bistro with absurdly small portions. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · pretentiously elegant or... pretentiousfrillyfussyostentatiousaffectedshowyprecious ↔ Opposites plainsimpleunderstatedunpretentious Word family Related forms chic Etymology AI details From French chichi ('fuss, affectation'), a reduplicative formation suggesting affected fussiness, perhaps related to chic. chichi French View etymology graph -> Topics Describing Qualities External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # chichi **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˈʃiːʃiː/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈʃiːʃiː/ ## Meanings 1. pretentiously elegant or fashionable; affectedly stylish ## Examples - They dined at a chichi little bistro with absurdly small portions. ## Synonyms - pretentious - frilly - fussy - ostentatious - affected - showy - precious ## Antonyms - plain - simple - understated - unpretentious ## Related Forms - chic ## Roots and Affixes - Root: chichi ## Etymology From French chichi ('fuss, affectation'), a reduplicative formation suggesting affected fussiness, perhaps related to chic. ## AI Etymology Chichi is an adjective and noun meaning "pretentiously elegant or fashionable; affectedly stylish". Historically, it is from French chichi ('fuss, affectation'), a reduplicative formation suggesting affected fussiness, perhaps related to chic. The older history should therefore be treated cautiously rather than as settled. The historical chain is anchored in French chichi. A close English family member is chic. This keeps the modern adjective and noun sense tied to the older forms and language sequence behind it. ## Topics - Describing Qualities markdown