Bohemian

English

Etymology

Bohemia

In sense of Romani and by association, marginalized artists, from French bohémien (“person from Bohemia, Romani”), from Bohême (“Bohemia”); compare gypsy (“Romani”), from Egypt.

Noun

Bohemian (countable and uncountable; plural Bohemians)

1. (countable) A native or resident of Bohemia.
2. (uncountable) The dialect of the Czech language spoken in Bohemia.
3. (countable, archaic) A Romani (Gypsy).
4. (countable, slang) A marginalized and impoverished young artist, or member of the urban literati.

Derived terms

• bohunk

Adjective

Bohemian (not comparable)

1. Of, or relating to Bohemia or its language.
2. Of, or relating to the untraditional lifestyles of marginalized and impoverished artists, writers, musicians, and actors in major European cities (or by extension, major North American cities as well).