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cachet

/kæˈʃeɪ/
/kæˈʃeɪ/
IPA guide

Other forms: cachets

Certain high-end brands have a particular cachet, or respectability. People just know they are the finest of their kind.

The word cachet comes from the French cachet meaning "seal affixed to a letter or document," and if something has cachet, it's as if it has a seal of approval from society. If you start a design company selling cachets for people to seal their letters with fancy wax, try getting some celebrities to endorse it. Then your cachets will have cachet — and that's fancy.

Definitions of cachet
  1. noun
    an indication of approved or superior status
    synonyms: seal, seal of approval
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    type of:
    accolade, award, honor, honour, laurels
    a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
  2. noun
    a seal on a letter
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    type of:
    seal, stamp
    a device incised to make an impression; used to secure a closing or to authenticate documents
  3. noun
    a warrant formerly issued by a French king who could warrant imprisonment or death in a signed letter under his seal
    synonyms: lettre de cachet
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    type of:
    warrant
    a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts
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