Ritzy
/ˈrɪt.si/noun
Luxuriously elegant, fashionable, or expensive.
Did you know?The word emerged from the international fame of César Ritz’s hotels, especially the Hôtel Ritz Paris, whose name became a shorthand for elite glamour.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
German/Swiss German
Ritz
“A surname associated with César Ritz; the surname’s deeper derivation is not fully certain.”
1898
French
Hôtel Ritz
“Luxury hotel founded by César Ritz in Paris.”
Early 20th Century
English
Ritz
“A symbol or standard of luxurious hotel elegance.”
1910s
English
ritzy
“Resembling the luxury and fashionable exclusivity associated with the Ritz.”
Modern English
English
ritzy
“Luxuriously stylish, glamorous, and often conspicuously expensive.”