niche

Everyday

1. A niche is a small hollow or alcove built into a wall, often to hold a statue or ornament. tree →
2. A niche is a job, place or activity that suits someone perfectly: «She found her niche in drama». tree →
3. (science) An ecological niche is the role and place a living thing has in its habitat: what it eats, where it lives, how it survives. tree →
4. (informal, business) Niche describes something that only a small group of people like or buy: a niche hobby. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons different species avoid competing because they fill different niches. In church and history lessons statues of saints stand in niches. In everyday talk a niche interest is something unusual, like collecting train tickets. Phrases: «find your niche», «a niche market», «ecological niche».

Examples

• A small statue stood in a niche in the church wall. tree →
• After trying many sports, he found his niche in swimming. tree →
• Owls and hawks hunt at different times, so they fill different niches. tree →
• Collecting bottle caps is a niche hobby. tree →
• The shop sells niche toys you can't find anywhere else. tree →
• Every animal in the pond has its own niche. tree →
• Walk on till you come to a niche in a terrace where stands a lighted lamp. tree →

Note

Said «neesh» (UK, most common) or «nitch» (US, also common). Plural «niches». As an adjective («a niche hobby») it is informal.