Definition

Noun: An upholstered armchair, typically one with open sides and a high back. This term often refers to a specific style of comfortable, often ornate, armchair.

Examples

• The antique fauteuil was the centerpiece of the elegant drawing room.
• She settled into the plush velvet fauteuil to read her book.
• The auction featured a pair of 18th-century giltwood fauteuils.

Advanced Usage

• In a historical or theatrical context, can sometimes refer to a seat in the front section of a theater's orchestra or stalls, particularly in French usage. However, in modern English, its primary meaning is the style of armchair.
  • He had a subscription for a fauteuil at the opera house.

Variants and Related Words

• Bergère: A related type of French armchair that is fully upholstered, including enclosed sides.
• Armchair: The general English term for a chair with side supports for the arms.

Synonyms

• Armchair
• Easy chair
• Wing chair (a specific type of high-backed armchair with "wings")

Notes on Usage

• Fauteuil is a loanword from French. It is used in English to convey a sense of sophistication, antiquity, or specific design style, often in contexts related to interior design, antiques, or fine arts.
• It is less common in everyday speech than the word "armchair."

Noun

1. an upholstered armchair