je ne sais quoi

noun

zhə-nə-ˌsā-ˈkwä

: something (such as an appealing quality) that cannot be adequately described or expressed

a young actress who has a certain je ne sais quoi

Example Sentences

Although the sculpture had flaws, it also had a certain je ne sais quoi that made it very appealing.

Recent Examples on the Web And this deep-v taupe blazer fits the je ne sais quoi bill.

Aemilia Madden, Harper's BAZAAR, 24 Oct. 2022 But there's something different about this year's crop; a ubiquitous je ne sais quoi skirts are lending to seemingly every style and trend.

Talia Abbas, Glamour, 20 Sep. 2022 Every place has a certain je ne sais quoi — whatever that special quality is for Key West, the island is swimming in it.

Erinne Magee, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 The Patou brand is known for its French cool aesthetic, with ready-to-wear pieces that mix street style with that classic French je ne sais quoi.

Sarah Boyd, Forbes, 1 Aug. 2022 Wake up your face with blush, bronzer, and highlighter that adds a perfect je ne sais quoi of color.

SELF, 20 July 2022 Plus, the slightly unlaced corset has a sort of je ne sais quoi to it that's pretty fabulous.

Seventeen, 1 June 2022 My Agent is a confidently Gallic je ne sais quoi, the most singular characteristic of Ten Percent is a strikingly British sense of inferiority and squandered potential.

Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2022 Every era since has had its own Francophone heroines, with current-day pinnacles of chic like Caroline de Maigret and Jeanne Damas parlaying their je ne sais quoi into everything from coffee-table books to beauty lines.

Véronique Hyland, refinery29.com, 13 Mar. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'je ne sais quoi.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, I know not what

First Known Use

circa 1656, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of je ne sais quoi was circa 1656

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Je ne sais quoi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/je%20ne%20sais%20quoi. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

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