bohemian Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling; they are believed to have originated in northern India but now are living on all continents (but mostly in Europe, North Africa, and North America)
    Gipsy; Romani; Rommany; Gypsy; Roma; Romany.
  2. noun a native or inhabitant of Bohemia in the Czech Republic
  3. noun a nonconformist writer or artist who lives an unconventional life
  4. adjective of or relating to Bohemia or its language or people
  5. adjective satellite unconventional in especially appearance and behavior
    • a bohemian life style

WordNet

Bo*he"mi*an adjective
Definitions
  1. Of or pertaining to Bohemia, or to the language of its ancient inhabitants or their descendants. See Bohemian, n., 2.
  2. Of or pertaining to a social gypsy or "Bohemian" (see Bohemian, n., 3); vagabond; unconventional; free and easy. Modern
    Hers was a pleasant Bohemian life till she was five and thirty. Blackw. Mag.
    Artists have abandoned their Bohemian manners and customs nowadays. W. Black.
Bo*he"mi*an noun
Definitions
  1. A native of Bohemia.
  2. The language of the Czechs (the ancient inhabitants of Bohemia), the richest and most developed of the dialects of the Slavic family.
  3. A restless vagabond; -- originally, an idle stroller or gypsy (as in France) thought to have come from Bohemia; in later times often applied to an adventurer in art or literature, of irregular, unconventional habits, questionable tastes, or free morals. Modern ✍ In this sense from the French bohémien, a gypsy; also, a person of irregular habits.
    She was of a wild, roving nature, inherited from father and mother, who were both Bohemians by taste and circumstances. Thackeray.

Webster 1913