je ne sais quoi
noun
\ zhə-nə-ˌsā-ˈkwä
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Definition of je ne sais quoi
: something (such as an appealing quality) that cannot be adequately described or expressed
a young actress who has a certain je ne sais quoi
Examples of je ne sais quoi in a Sentence
Although the sculpture had flaws, it also had a certain je ne sais quoi that made it very appealing.
Recent Examples on the Web
In 2015, Current and Elliott launched The Great, a relaxed coterie of everything that's fashionable right now: prairie dresses, collegiate separates, distressed denim and a whiff of Parisienne je ne sais quoi. — Amber Elliott, Houston Chronicle, "Former denim designers behind Current/Elliott debut exclusive Pottery Barn collection at Indianola," 29 Aug. 2019 There’s no question that Ricochet is super athletic and amazingly talented, but there’s The O.C. with Styles carry a certain je ne sais quoi about them. — Joe Nguyen, The Denver Post, "SummerSlam 2019: Predictions, breakdowns of the WWE pay-per-view," 11 Aug. 2019 Each of these five French cities offers enough history, food and wine, shopping, art and culture, and that certain French je ne sais quoi to satisfy any Francophile’s cravings. — Kimberley Lovato, National Geographic, "5 beautiful cities in France for avoiding the Paris crowds," 24 July 2019 For that winning dose of je ne sais quoi, Beckham wore hers with a classic black elongated cardigan by Chanel. — Liana Satenstein, Vogue, "Victoria Beckham Puts a French Spin on ’80s Stirrup Leggings," 22 May 2019 There's just been a certain je ne sais quoi about the hue that many can't quite put their finger on. — Donna Freydkin, Allure, "How Beyoncé and Rita Hazan Chose the Perfect Blonde Hair Color for Bey's On the Run II Tour," 29 Aug. 2018 Perhaps that’s the je ne sais quoi that’s got heads turning. — Kate Branch, Vogue, "Meet Adeline, the Funk Musician Who Will Stoke Your Love of Glitter Eyes and Big, Big Hair," 12 Oct. 2018 More importantly, what gives them that je ne sais quoi is the differences that set them apart from that Brigitte Bardot stereotype. — Leah Prinzivalli, Glamour, "10 Women Who Defy the 'French-Girl Beauty' Trope," 14 July 2018 Alameda resident Charlotte Boedec has a certain je ne sais quoi — as does her 2-month-old Hayes Valley boutique Gazette (334 Gough St.). — Gail Goldberg, SFChronicle.com, "Hayes Valley boutique Gazette says bonjour to French labels," 5 July 2018These 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.
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More Definitions for je ne sais quoi
je ne sais quoi
noun
English Language Learners Definition of je ne sais quoi
sometimes humorous
: a pleasant quality that is hard to describe
See the full definition for je ne sais quoi in the English Language Learners Dictionary