niche

Etymology

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.

noun

1. (architecture) A cavity, hollow, or recess, generally within the thickness of a wall, for a statue, bust, or other erect ornament.
   On the margin of this long tract, are abundance of shrines and images, defended from the injuries of the weather by niches of stone wherein they are placed. 1641, John Evelyn, edited by William Bray, John Evelyn's Diary, volume 1, London: Henry Colburn, published 1850, page 34
2. Any similar position, literal or figurative.
3. Specifically, a cremation niche; a columbarium.
4. (ecology) A function within an ecological system to which an organism is especially suited.
5. (by extension) Any position of opportunity for which one is well-suited, such as a particular market in business.
   Whitney, mother of Xavier, is a real estate titan who, along with her British husband, has found her niche selling luxurious underground bunkers to wealthy clients looking for a safe space to hunker down in the event of a climate apocalypse. 2022-04-05, Elizabeth Wetmore, “How Far Will Parents Go to Protect Their Sons?”, in The New York Times
6. (Islam) An arrow woven into a prayer rug pointing in the direction of qibla.

verb

1. (transitive) To place in a niche.
   a niched vase
2. (transitive, marketing) To specialize in a niche, or particular narrow section of the market.
   Product differentiation will be mostly limited to market niching and fashion. 2002, Frederick Betz, Executive Strategy, page 92

adj

1. Pertaining to or intended for a market niche; having specific appeal.
   niche products
   niche audience
   You can go even more niche if you like though and choose 'crocheting' or 'bird sewing patterns' but the 'more niche' you go, the more you narrow your audience. 2016, BookLover, How to Become A Massive YouTube Celebrity