Meaning & use
niches
Last updated
“niches” is a form of “niche”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nouncountablebusiness
Plural of niche: small specialized areas of a market or activity that suit a particular group of people.
Grammar: Often used with business words: market niches.
Patterns
- niches in something
- find niches
Small publishers survive by finding niches that big firms ignore.
The shop serves several niches, from vintage toys to rare books.
Many online sellers succeed in tiny niches.
nouncountablebiologytechnical
Plural of niche in ecology: the different roles and places that species hold in their environment.
Grammar: Used in science writing about living things.
Patterns
- ecological niches
- occupy niches
Different birds occupy different niches in the same forest.
Species with similar diets can share a habitat if they use different niches.
Empty niches appear after a species disappears.
nouncountable
Plural of niche meaning small hollows in a wall for displaying statues or ornaments.
Grammar: Used in building and art descriptions.
Patterns
- niches in a wall
The old church has niches holding small stone figures.
Candles stood in niches along the hallway.
Each niche in the wall held a vase.
Word forms
| singular | niche |
|---|
Common combinations
- market niches
- Startups often target market niches.
- ecological niches
- Ecological niches describe how species live.
- carve out niches
- Small brands carve out niches in a crowded market.
- fill niches
- New products fill niches that others miss.
- niches in the wall
- The niches in the wall held small lamps.
Synonyms and how they differ
- segments
- Segments are parts of a market of any size, whereas niches are small and specialized.
- specialties
- Specialties describe what a business is best at, while niches describe the small audience it serves.
- recesses
- Recesses are hollows in a wall without the sense of display that niches carry.
- slots
- Slots suggests a free space or position, a broader and less specialized idea than niches.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: niches or nitches?
niches vs nitches
Nitches is a common misspelling; the correct plural is niches.
Practice
Small companies often succeed by serving specialized ____ that big firms overlook.
Choose one answer.
Niches are small specialized market areas. Notches and nuances sound similar but do not describe markets.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “niches”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.