Swiss hotelier who created a chain of elegant hotels (1850-1918)
"The Ritz, referring to the famous Swiss hotelier César Ritz, transformed hospitality by creating an exclusive chain of elegant hotels across Europe."
an ostentatiously elegant hotel
"The guests at the Ritz enjoyed their luxurious stay in the grand lobby."
A display of ostentatious elegance.
"The ballroom was transformed into a scene of pure ritz, complete with crystal chandeliers and imported caviar served on silver platters."
In plain English: Ritz is an old-fashioned word for something fancy, luxurious, and very high-class.
"The ritz in her voice suggested that she was not at all pleased with their behavior."
Usage: Use "Ritz" with a capital R when referring to the specific hotel chain or its associated brand, but lowercase it for general descriptions of luxury style. Avoid using this term in casual conversation where simpler words like "luxury" would be more appropriate.
To behave in an ostentatiously elegant manner.
"The celebrity arrived at the gala, ritzed up in a diamond-encrusted gown and sashaying down the red carpet."
In plain English: To ritz means to decorate something with fancy, expensive-looking details just for show.
"The chef decided to ritz the steak before serving it hot from the grill."
A surname.
"The famous Ritz hotel was founded by César Ritz."
The word ritz is a back-formation derived from ritzy, created by removing the suffix -y. It entered English to describe something luxurious or fancy, reflecting its original association with high-end hotels and resorts.