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noun Uncommon

bohemian

boh-HEE-mee-uhn

Bohemian (noun) means a person, especially an artist or writer, who lives an unconventional lifestyle, often rejecting mainstream norms. Example: “The city's bohemians gathered nightly in the same smoky café.”

noun
1
A person, especially an artist or writer, who lives an unconventional lifestyle, often rejecting mainstream norms.
"The city's bohemians gathered nightly in the same smoky café."
adj
1
Unconventional in lifestyle, dress, or habits, especially in an artistic way.
"She had a bohemian sense of style — flowing skirts, layered jewelry, bare feet."

How to use bohemian

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLiving or dressing in an unconventional, artsy, free-spirited way.

Common pairings
bohemian lifestyle bohemian style bohemian artist

Word forms

more bohemian comparative, bohemians plural, most bohemian superlative

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The city's _____ gathered nightly in the same smoky café.

Etymology

From French bohémien, originally meaning "person from Bohemia," later applied to unconventional artists, partly due to a (mistaken) association with Romani travelers thought to have come through Bohemia.

Origin: French

Roma Gypsy Gipsy Romany Romani Rommany

Related words

Rhymes for bohemian

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Frequently asked questions

What does “bohemian” mean?

The word “bohemian” means a person, especially an artist or writer, who lives an unconventional lifestyle, often rejecting mainstream norms. In plain terms, living or dressing in an unconventional, artsy, free-spirited way.

How do you pronounce “bohemian”?

“Bohemian” is pronounced boh-HEE-mee-uhn (/boʊˈhimi.ən/ in IPA).

How do you use “bohemian” in a sentence?

Here is “bohemian” used in a sentence: “The city's bohemians gathered nightly in the same smoky café.”

What part of speech is “bohemian”?

Depending on how it is used, “bohemian” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “bohemian” come from?

The word “bohemian” comes from French. From French bohémien, originally meaning "person from Bohemia," later applied to unconventional artists, partly due to a (mistaken) association with Romani travelers thought to have come through Bohemia.

Is “bohemian” a common word?

“Bohemian” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “bohemian” have?

“Bohemian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person, especially an artist or writer, who lives an unconventional lifestyle, often rejecting mainstream norms.

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