niche
pronunciation
How to pronounce niche in British English:
UK [niːʃ]
How to pronounce niche in American English:
US [niːʃ]
-
- Noun:
- a position particularly well suited to the person who occupies it
- a small concavity
- an enclosure that is set back or indented
- (ecology) the status of an organism within its environment and community (affecting its survival as a species)
Word Origin
- niche
- niche: see nest
- niche (n.)
- 1610s, "shallow recess in a wall," from French niche "recess (for a dog), kennel" (14c.), perhaps from Italian nicchia "niche, nook," from nicchio "seashell," said by Klein and Barnhart to be probably from Latin mitulus "mussel," but the change of -m- to -n- is not explained. Watkins suggests that the word is from an Old French noun derived from nichier "to nestle, nest, build a nest," via Gallo-Roman *nidicare from Latin nidus "nest;" but that has difficulties, too. Figurative sense is first recorded 1725. Biological use dates from 1927.
Example
- 1. Are you an expert on a particular niche topic ?
- 2. But they are stuck in a niche , serving people in transit .
- 3. Our niche blogs do the best .
- 4. He thinks mining will remain a niche business .
- 5. Fast-growing niche grocers are more insulated .