niche

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a position particularly well suited to the person who occupies it

   They found their niche in the academic world.

2. 2
   noun

   A cavity, hollow, or recess, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a statue, bust, or other erect ornament.

   On the margin of this long tract, are abundance of shrines and images, defended from the injuries of the weather by niches of stone wherein they are placed.

3. 3
   noun

   Any position of opportunity for which one is well-suited, such as a particular market in business.

   Whitney, mother of Xavier, is a real estate titan who, along with her British husband, has found her niche selling luxurious underground bunkers to wealthy clients looking for a safe space to hunker down in the event of a climate apocalypse.

4. 4
   verb

   To place in a niche.

   a niched vase

5. 5
   verb

   To specialize in a niche, or particular narrow section of the market.

   Product differentiation will be mostly limited to market niching and fashion.

6. 6
   adj

   Pertaining to or intended for a market niche; having specific appeal; obscure.

   niche products

7. 7
   noun

   an enclosure that is set back or indented

8. 8
   noun

   a small concavity

Etymology

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.