Bougie Definition and Usage Examples

“Bougie” is a word people use to describe things or behaviors that try to seem fancy or rich, even if they’re not. It’s like when someone acts or buys stuff in a way that makes it look like they have a lot of money or fancy tastes, but it might come off as trying too hard or not being genuine.

Relating to or characteristic of a person who indulges in some of the luxuries and comforts of a fancy lifestyle:

Example: He spends too much on bougie stuff he can’t afford.

Bougie Slang Meaning

The term “bougie,” and its variant “bourgie,” can be used in different, sometimes disparaging ways to describe attitudes and behaviors associated with a certain kind of lifestyle or aspiration toward wealth and status. There are 3 meanings of Bougie –

1. Indulging in Luxuries Beyond One’s Means: The first usage of “bougie” describes someone who spends a lot on luxury items or fancy lifestyles they can’t really afford. It’s about pursuing a lifestyle that seems high-end or sophisticated, even if it’s not financially wise for them.

For example: People in the neighborhood have strong opinions about inauthentic bougie snobs.

2. Aspiring to the Upper Middle Class: This means some people really want to look like they’re part of the richer crowd, even if it makes them seem stuck-up or too full of themselves. They might even move to fancy places where they think things are better, like schools, just so others see them as rich or fancy too.

For example: The bougie folks all left the old neighborhood and bought houses out there where their kids’ll go to “good schools,” whatever that means.

3. Flaunting Newly Acquired Wealth Without Class Values: The last description points to people who show off their new money but don’t adopt the cultural values or subtleties traditionally associated with the upper middle class. An example is drinking expensive champagne from a cheap plastic cup, which symbolizes a mix of high-end and low-end elements. It suggests enjoying the trappings of wealth without fully integrating into the lifestyle or values that often come with it.

For example: That bougie feeling when you’re drinking high-end champagne—out of a red plastic cup.

Sentences With Bougie

1. She only drinks boutique coffee from that new, bougie café downtown.
2. After getting his first big paycheck, he went a little bougie and splurged on a designer watch.
3. Their wedding was so bougie, complete with a string quartet and a five-course meal.
4. Ever since he moved to the upscale neighborhood, he’s been acting kind of bougie, talking about wine tastings and art galleries.
5. I felt a bit out of place at the party; it was a bit too bougie for my taste, with everyone discussing their luxury vacations.
6. She called me bougie because I prefer organic groceries from the high-end market.
7. The restaurant they chose for the reunion was surprisingly bougie, considering we all used to eat at diners back in college.
8. He’s got a bougie habit of only flying first class, even on short flights.
9. My friends teased me for being bougie when I complained about the lack of almond milk at the coffee shop.
10. That bougie feeling hit when I realized I was the only one at the picnic with imported cheese and fine wine.