je ne sais quoi

noun

: 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 If a bit of funky je ne sais quoi is more your speed, look to the Muki at Miami's Bar Kaiju. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 28 June 2024 At only $20, this adorable H&M puff-sleeve is just frothy enough to add a little je ne sais quoi, but has a French simplicity at its core. Grace Smith, Peoplemag, 31 May 2024 Destinations The French-speaking speck of an island in the Lesser Antilles holds a certain je ne sais quoi that's being amplified by this season’s swish new villas and beach clubs. Lane Nieset, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Jan. 2024 This had a certain je ne sais quoi, but our panelists struggled to figure out if that was a good thing. Allison Robicelli, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for je ne sais quoi 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'je ne sais quoi.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near je ne sais quoi

Cite this Entry

“Je ne sais quoi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/je%20ne%20sais%20quoi. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.

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