# niche

> English word · Noun · IPA /niːʃ/ · frequency rank #8,962

## Definitions
1. A cavity, hollow, or recess, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a statue, bust, or other erect ornament.
2. Any similar position, literal or figurative.
3. Specifically, a cremation niche; a columbarium.
4. A function within an ecological system to which an organism is especially suited.
5. Any position of opportunity for which one is well-suited, such as a particular market in business.
6. An arrow woven into a prayer rug pointing in the direction of qibla.

## Etymology
Unadapted borrowing from French niche, from Middle French niche, from Old French niche, from nicher (“to make a nest”) (modern French nicher), from Vulgar Latin *nīdicāre, from Latin nīdus (“nest”). Doublet of nidus and nide via Latin and nest via Proto-Indo-European; also related to nyas.

## Easily confused with
- **NIH** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nih)
- **nine** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nine)
- **nick** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nick)
- **Nike** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nike)
- **Nile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nile)
- **Nico** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nico)
- **nigh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nigh)
- **nite** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nite)
- **NICU** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nicu)
- **night** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-night)
- **niece** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-niece)
- **Nicky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nicky)
- **nicks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nicks)
- **Nicol** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nicol)
- **Nisha** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nisha)
- **Nicole** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nicole)
- **nickel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nickel)
- **nicked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/niche-vs-nicked)
- **NIC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nic-vs-niche)
- **nice** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/nice-vs-niche)

## Common misspellings (7)
`inche`, `ncihe`, `nicche`, `niceh`, `nichhe`, `nihce`, `nniche`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/niche